Hereford Cathedral and its west front

5:31pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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AT the dedication of the rebuilt west front of Hereford Cathedral on June 9, 1908, the people of the city proclaimed they finally had what they wanted after more than 100 years of discontent.

When the spectacular medieval front famously collapsed on Easter Monday in 1786 the replacement, plain in style, was universally disliked but appeals for it to be demolished fell on deaf ears.

Historical records for the Cathedral go back to around 1055 and show that parts were added over the centuries. The new buildings overloaded the west front before it came down in a dramatic pile.

The stones had to be guarded by watchmen day and night so that the remains were not stolen before James Wyatt designed its replacement.

The restoration work rebuilt the triforium and clerestory of the nave which was shortened in length by one bay and the wooden central spire was removed.

It was completed in 1796 but not without human cost. John Pember and Joseph Prosser were killed in an accident in January 1790. The Berrows Journal of the day described the tragedy as “a scene shocking beyond description”.

In 1886 an appeal for subscriptions to rebuild the front for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee failed but then an earthquake centred in Hereford caused structural damage to the pinnacles of Wyatt’s front. That gave the critics the chance to once again appeal for a new west front.

Subscriptions were raised from generous supporters and a new design by Oldrid Scott piece by piece replaced the old.

The first, in 1902, was a new central window as a memorial to the late Queen Victoria. This was provided by subscriptions from more than 8,000 women from across the county and diocese.

In 1904 part of the new west front was built and was described as “the quiet setting right again of a mistake made 120 years ago”.

In 1905 the building of the west front of the north aisle and the unveiling of the croft medallion over the porch of the north aisle was completed. But then work discontinued due to lack of funds.

By 1907 more funds meant that a corner stone of the masonic turret (south-west) could be laid and then the St Ethelbert Medallion over the porch of the south aisle.

There was a final dedication of the porches of the west front of the south aisle in 1908.