Peterborough Cathedral is an almost complete Romanesque church in England, little altered since its completion in the 13th century. It has impressive Gothic facades with huge arches forming a giant porch in front of the building, flanked by small spires. The central and west towers make relatively little presence, given the building’s enormous size. The ambulatory around the apse is a superb example of late medieval perpendicular architecture with a stunning fan-vaulted ceiling. It had only cathedral status since 1541, prior to which it was Peterborough Abbey, one of the most well-endowed monastic houses in the country.
During the Civil War, Parliamentarian troops ransacked the church and former monastic buildings in an orgy of destruction, overseen by Cromwell himself. Tombs and monuments were defaced, original furnishings and woodwork destroyed, and all stained glass removed. The cloisters on the south side were demolished, with only their outer walls and a few reminders of their former richness remaining. The 13th century Lady Chapel attached to the north transept was another major casualty, demolished immediately after the war.
There were major restorations during the 19th century, which included the dismantling and rebuilding of the central tower. The building today is a marvel of architecture, but somewhat hollow owing to the misfortunes of history, with few windows of real note. Despite this, it is one of the very finest churches in England.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2017-06-06 07:23:56