h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, UK - A87722049
Author: Bluebottle - U43530

An article on Winchester Cathedral.

A few weeks ago I went to the library intending to borrow books on Netley Abbey (as I had been writing about Netley Castle) but they didn't have any. So I borrowed books on Winchester Cathedral instead, got home and wrote a few paragraphs describing the lengths of beard of the stars of the various Sinbad films by Ray Harryhausen. This seemed very important at the time.

That done, I wrote an article on Hadrian's Wall unexpectedly and eventually wrote about Winchester Cathedral, which I had intended to do all along.

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Updated to reflect all the comments and suggestions made so far.

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Oh dear! We must have all been looking the other way when this was submitted - sorry Bluebottle.

Ooh. Great compendium of fascinating lore.

Might I suggest a few small changes to the opening, just to hook the reader in a bit?

'It has stood for over 900 years, but Winchester Cathedral - built between 1079-1093 - was the third cathedral on the site. This house of worship, located in what was once a capital city, is the longest mediaeval cathedral in Europe. In addition to its architectural significance, the cathedral boasts a fascinating history.'

Change as needed, or discard.

I like it! I've added that.

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Hello

Just been browsing, wondering what else I can draw (itchy fingers!) and spotted this!

Would you like me to 'do' another illustration for you all, or am I jumping the gun a little??

BB might want a different style ?

Rosie-the-wlonk!

I'd love it if you did the illustration for this article as I really enjoy your style! As this article is still in Peer Review, it would perhaps be a little early to start drawing now, though.

Of course, there's no reason why you couldn't draw a picture of Winchester Cathedral now if you wanted to as a personal project, and then, should this article be recommended, there would be a picture ready for it. But it is possible that this article stays here in Peer Review for some considerable time. It is even possible, although hopefully not likely, that this article is considered not to be appropriate for inclusion in the Guide at all.

It's up to you.

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ok....think you're probably right

I'm still getting used to the way of things around here and I suppose it was a bit presumptious of me to think it will be accepted!! (I think it will of course - in time)

so until then I'll be patient and wait my turn

It depends on how quickly you can produce a drawing Rosie. Once picked, the Eds are trying to get Entries through onto the Front Page as quickly as possible, but at present there are some bottlenecks in the process.

It doesn't take me long, usually, just a couple of evenings if all goes well

I'm just starting another illustration though - which may take a while.....................................

so no longer have 'itchy-fingers'

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Over to you Rosie!

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Hi BB

I think this Entry was selected almost accidentally...

But now that it has, it needs a lot more work doing than a sub editor should have to handle.


Please will you take a look at the paragraph on St Swithun?

>>> The Old Minster was a home of the shrine to St Swithun. St Swithun was a Bishop of Winchester who died in 862. His body was found in 974, shortly after the discovery in 971 by Bishop Æthelwold that St Swithun had, in his lifetime, performed miracles3. One of these miracles took place on the day that St Swithun bridged the river Itchen at Winchester, at the site of the current bridge by the watermill. A woman who had come to watch the bridge open was jostled in the crowd and broke the eggs she was carrying, smashing them into pieces. St Swithun miraculously restored the eggs and made them whole again. He is also famous for predicting the weather; if it rains on St Swithun's Day, 15 July, it will rain for forty days afterwards. This belief is believed to have been originated on the day that St Swithun was interred in his shrine in the Old Minster and the weather following.

The old, empty grave site, remained in use until the dissolution of the monasteries as a memorial court and St Swithun's Priory.

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Can you rewrite this please? I find it both repetitive in parts, and confusing in others. Maybe if you started with a completely blank sheet and tried to explain in simple, non repetitive language, the story of the saint, and where his shrine is. The last sentence you've added ( about the empty grave site) has totally confused the meaning - so I can't sub edit it. I'm sorry, but the way you've written this section looks rather like disjointed notes.

Is this better?

Saint Swithun
The Old Minster was a home of the shrine to St Swithun, a Bishop of Winchester who had died in 862. In 971 Bishop &AElig;thelwold announced that St Swithun had performed many miracles in his lifetime, the most famous of which took place when St Swithun bridged the river Itchen at WinchesterSwithun's bridge's location is still the site of the main bridge in Winchester today, next to the watermill.. A woman in the crowd carrying a basket eggs was jostled in the crowd and dropped her basket, which smashed the eggs into pieces. St Swithun is said to have miraculously restored the eggs. St Swithun's body was unearthed and interred in a shrine in the Old Minster on 15 July 974, which according to legend was the first of forty days on which it rained. This has led to a popular saying that if it rains on St Swithun's Day, it will rain for forty days afterwards.
St Swithun's internment in a new shrine was done in order to attract pilgrims to Winchester, thus increasing Winchester's prestige and wealth. Long distance trails known as the St Swithun's Way and Pilgrim's Way still lead to Winchester Cathedral today. St Swithun's grave site remained in use as a shrine, St Swithun's Priory, and memorial court until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

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Yay! yes, much better thanks BB

(Ignore the second 'in the crowd')

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Saint Swithun
The Old Minster was a home of the shrine to St Swithun, a Bishop of Winchester who had died in 862. In 971 Bishop &AElig;thelwold announced that St Swithun had performed many miracles in his lifetime, the most famous of which took place when St Swithun bridged the river Itchen at WinchesterSwithun's bridge's location is still the site of the main bridge in Winchester today, next to the watermill.. A woman in the crowd carrying a basket of eggs was jostled and dropped her basket, which smashed the eggs into pieces. St Swithun is said to have miraculously restored the eggs. St Swithun's body was unearthed and interred in a shrine in the Old Minster on 15 July 974, which according to legend was the first of forty days on which it rained. This has led to a popular saying that if it rains on St Swithun's Day, it will rain for forty days afterwards.
St Swithun's internment in a new shrine was done in order to attract pilgrims to Winchester, thus increasing Winchester's prestige and wealth. Long distance trails known as the St Swithun's Way and Pilgrim's Way still lead to Winchester Cathedral today. St Swithun's grave site remained in use as a shrine, St Swithun's Priory, and memorial court until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.