The Building
The foundations of the current Cathedral were laid by Bishop Walkelin in 1079 of stone brought from the Isle of Wight and timber from one of Hampshire's oak forests. Most of the building has been restored, with only the crypt and transepts surviving. The east end was greatly extended to include the Retrochoir during the 13th century. The Nave was completely remodelled in around 1400 and since then, more minor alterations and the introduction of tombs, chapels and monuments have been a feature of every century.
The
Nave is the largest area and it is here that the public would have had
access to the Cathedral. Services, in the main, would have been conducted
in the Quire, and not normally accessible to a congregation. These days,
of course, no such distinction is made and services are held in as many
locations as possible to make the best use of these beautiful spaces.
The Retrochoir (the area behind the Quire) is one of especial
beauty and tranquility. The site of St Swithun's shrine, which stood there
until it was destroyed in 1538, contains the largest surviving area of
13th century medieval tiles in the country and contemporary icons by Sergei
Fyodorov. 
From
this, leads the Lady Chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and
whose walls are decorated with 15th century images of her legendary miracles.
Here is evidence of the subsidence which, early in the last century, caused
the diver William Walker and 250 others to undertake the extraordinary
task of underpinning the foundations with concrete, so saving the cathedral
from considerable risk. The Crypt, home to Anthony Gormleys' Sound II,
a contemplative figure, still floods regularly in the winter.
