Hereford Cathedral, West Midlands, England

While the nave at Hereford Cathedral originally dates from 1100, it was dramatically changed when on Easter Monday of 1786 the central tower collapsed, with structural repairs being previously neglected even though architects had warned of the dangers.   Although the nave was restored, it was rebuilt to a smaller scale than the original.  The western tower was never reconstructed and the Cathedral is noticeably smaller than many others.

Today, Sir Richard Pembridge’s effigy lies in the nave.  Pembridge was a Herefordshire man who fought at Poitiers in 1356 and was of the first Knights of the Garter.  The garter can be seen on his left leg, which is lucky as the right leg of the effigy was smashed and replaced with a wooden version, until a marble restoration was created in the 19th century.  Pembridge died in 1375. 

The Lady Chapel and the crypt at Hereford were constructed in the early 13th Century.  They are both a good example of Early English Gothic architecture. Although the Cathedral was heavily restored in Victorian times, there are many medieval items and architecture that have been retained.