walls and
new roofs and strengthened it at the north and south sides with solid
aisles and various arches. He added also many chapels, with sacred
altars which distract attention from the threshold of the church, so
that the stranger walking in the courts is at a loss where to turn,
seeing on all sides doors open to him, without a certain path. He stands
with wondering eyes until some experienced guide conducts him to the
portals of the farthest vestibule. Here marvelling he crosses himself
and knows not how to quit, so dazzling is the construction and so
brilliant the variety of the fabric that sustains this ancient church,
which that devout father himself strengthened, roofed, endowed, and
dedicated." Later Wolstan speaks of Athelwold's addition of "secret
crypts," of "such organs that the like were never seen," of a sparkling
tower reflecting from heaven the sun's first rays, "with at its top a
rod with golden balls and a mighty golden cock which as it turns boldly
sets its face to every wind that blows." More might be quoted, but it is
sufficient here to refer those interested in the matter either to the
chronicle itself or to Willis in the "Proceedings of the Architectural
Institute" for 1845. Though Wolstan thus describes Athelwold's
undertaking at great length, it does not appear that the bishop actually
did more than commence the restoration of the original buildings, for
his successor is exhorted in the letter to carry out Athelwold's design.
The chronicler Rudborne makes mention only of the dedication of a
minster in honour of the Apostles Peter and Paul, in the presence of
King Aethelred, Archbishop Dunstan and eight other bishops, on October
20, 980 A.D. John of Exeter ascribes to Athelwold the entire rebuilding
of the cathedral, but the Winchester annalist does not mention
Athelwold's great works.

From Athelwold's death to the succession of Walkelin the history of the
cathedral is little more than a record of its bishops; but with Walkelin
we reach a very important epoch in its existence. In 1079, the
Winchester Annals relate, this bishop began to rebuild the cathedral
from its very foundations, as was commonly done by the Norman
ecclesiastics of the time. According to this account, it was in 1086
that the king granted Walkelin, for the completion of his new building,
as much wood from the forest of Hempage (three miles distant from the
city on the Alresford road) as he could cut in four days and nights.