Winchester was the Anglo-Saxon capital of England, and its bishop often held high offices of state even after it surrendered that title to Westminster. The cathedral stands on the edge of the old town, near the ruined medieval bishop's palace.

The nave of Winchester, which you can see above, was originally a Norman construction - thick columns, small windows. If you go to Winchester, you can see what it was like when you stand in the transepts. However, the nave was refurbished in the 15th Century into the Perpendicular style, with the existing nave being converted rather than rebuilt. The end result is this expanse, well-lit from the enlarged windows and opened up by the removal of much of the bulk of the Norman nave. It has an austere quality to it; the sunlight and the colour of the stone makes it feel cool and airy at the same time.