East, South and North
Previous page: The Western Front
The east or choir extremity of the cathedral displays a more florid style of architecture, crowned with elegant niches and delicate pinnacles. Over what must be one of the finest windows in the world is seen the statue of the venerable founder of the choir, mitred and robed and seeming to point to the wonderful window as his brightest monument.
The view of the southern front of the cathedral assumes naturally three grand architectural divisions - the nave, transept, and high choir, while above the prevailing sky-line are seen the face of the western tower and the lantern tower in the centre of the edifice.
The front of the south transept, one of the finest examples of the architecture of the period to be found anywhere, is in three grand divisions formed by octangular buttresses. The depth of the recesses in this front, the vast masses of the clerestory and tower rising behind, give to this elevation a particularly grand character for light and shade.
On the northern transept, the front shows five tall lancet windows, called the "five sisters" from a tradition that the stained glass with which they are adorned was the gift of five maidens of the same family.
Next page: Interior of York Minster
