Peterborough Cathedral is considered one of the finest buildings in England. It is an almost completely preserved Romanesque church covered by an extraordinary Gothic facade found in medieval Europe. Its construction began in the 12th century with the bulk of its structure being Norman, including its apse, a rarity in England. It has only undergone minor restorations since its completion in the 13th century. It suffered severe damage during the Civil War, where nearly all original furnishings and woodwork were destroyed along with every bit of stained glass in its vast windows. This destruction included an unusual 13th-century Lady Chapel attached to the north transept. The cathedral underwent major restorations during the 19th century to bring it back into order to the marvel of architecture that it is today.
The cathedral was once known as Peterborough Abbey, which was one of the most well-endowed monastic houses in the country. It only acquired cathedral status in 1541. As a result of its size, it is surprising to learn that it has only had cathedral status since then. Two queens were buried in the cathedral, Katherine of Aragon and Mary Queen of Scots.
The 13th-century west facade is the most remarkable part of the building. It consists of three vast Gothic arches that form a giant porch at the entrance, flanked by small spires. Its design was supposed to be surmounted by two pinnacled towers rising just behind the facade, but only one tower was ever built. The central tower is a 14th-century structure with a striking vaulted ceiling. Surprisingly, both towers make a little presence on the city’s skyline for such an enormous building. The final addition to the church before the Reformation was the ambulatory around the apse, a late medieval perpendicular with a stunning fan-vaulted ceiling.
Peterborough Cathedral is a church of great beauty, but it is somewhat hollow due to the misfortunes of history. It suffered significant damage in the Civil War when Parliamentarian troops ransacked the church and former monastic buildings. Following the Cromwellian rampage, many tombs and monuments were brutally defaced, and every bit of stained glass in all the vast windows was wiped out. Nevertheless, the cathedral remains one of the most magnificent churches in the country.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2017-06-05 07:20:13