The Cathedral Church of St Mary was begun in 1220 and completed in 1266. The Cloisters and Chapter House were added between c1270-1279. This photograph can be dated to after 1870 as the finely-executed filigree iron choir screen pictured was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott as part of his restorations to the cathedral between 1863 and 1867, and was manufactured by Skidmore of Coventry in 1870. It was gifted as a memorial to the late Sidney Lear, a benefactor of the cathedral. In 1959 it was removed to allow the congregation an unrestricted view of the high altar from the nave; Gilbert Scott's reredos, also pictured, was also removed at this time.
The reverse of the print is stamped with a National Buildings Record stamp, noting that the print was accessioned to their collection on the 12th of August 1942, from the donor J L Lovibond.
This is part of the Series: RBO01/45 Early Photographic Print Collection: Wiltshire; within the Collection: RBO01 Early Photographic Print Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Donor: Lovibond, Joseph Locke
Choir, Medieval Cathedral