84 YORK: WITH A FEW NOTES ON BEVERLEY. 
We are informed by the Venerable Bede that the first building 
on the site of the cathedral was erected by Edwin, the first 
Christian King of Northumbria, and used at his baptism on Easter 
day, 627. This was simply a little wooden oratory, but he replaced 
it by a stone edifice which he dedicated to St. Peter. In 633 
Christianity was suppressed, but again introduced by King Oswald 
and subsequently when England was divided into two ecclesiastical 
provinces, York was made the seat of an archbishopric. 
One of the characteristics of this cathedral is its peculiar 
liability to destruction by fire. It suffered much in 1068; was 
rebuilt in 1080; partly destroyed by fire in 1137; restored 
in 1171. At this time Archbishop Roger commenced the re- 
building of the choir in the Norman style. The present structure, 
however, dates from 1227. At this time the south transept was 
built by Walter de Grey. In 1260 the north transept was built by 
John de Romayne, father of the archbishop, and the central tower 
was also built about this time. 
The Choir was not completed till about 1400, and in 1405 the 
central Tower was recased, heightened, and changed into a lantern 
tower in the Perpendicular style to agree with the rest of the 
building. 
The Nave was commenced in 1291 by Archbishop Romayne ; 
this is all Decorated work, and was completed about 1345, 
including the two western towers as well as the Chapter House. 
My authorities do not quite agree as to the date of the western 
towers, there being only about 140 years difference in the two 
opinions, one making them of the Decorated period, and the other 
of the Perpendicular. 
The proprietors of the Bui/der have had the Minster specially 
surveyed and measured, and in doing this some curious irregulari- 
ties have been discovered, which have not perhaps appeared in 
any other plan. These irregularities may be attributed to the 
piecemeal alterations that have been made at various times, and 
the curious way in which they have been carried out. One would 
imagine, for instance, that in the alteration of the Choir I have 
alluded to, the work would have been commenced at the tower or 
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