Peterborough Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece, an almost complete Norman church with a unique Gothic facade that dates back to the 13th century. The structure has remained largely unaltered since its completion in the 13th century and retains its original wooden ceilings, painted decorations, and Gothic arches. The apse, which is a rarity in England, has an ambulatory around it adorned with late medieval perpendicular fan-vaulted ceilings.
The building was originally Peterborough Abbey and was one of the most well-endowed monastic houses in England, as evidenced by its architecture. Until 1541, when it was granted cathedral status, it was referred to as Peterborough Abbey. The church housed the burial sites of esteemed royals Queen Katherine of Aragon and Mary Queen of Scots.
Peterborough Cathedral’s elaborate Gothic facade, consisting of three vast arches and small spires, is the most striking feature of the building. However, it was during the English Civil War that tragedy struck the church. Parliamentarian troops caused a great deal of damage to the church and the monastic buildings, tearing down monuments and defacing tombs, as well as destroying all original furnishings and stained glass windows.
The cloisters on the south side, which were notable for their painted windows’ beauty, were razed to the ground, and the Lady Chapel, a magnificent 13th-century structure attached to the north transept, succumbed to the same fate after the war. The materials from the destroyed structures were sold, and the funds were used to restore the cathedral after the destruction caused by the war, providing us with what we see today.
The subsequent centuries saw numerous attempts to restore the church to its former glory. Dismantling the central tower and rebuilding it owing to overall structural weakness was among the significant restorations in the 19th century. Currently, the church is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, albeit hollow because of the misfortunes of history. There are few noteworthy windows, tombs and furnishings at Peterborough Cathedral, but for the magnificence of its architecture, it remains one of England’s finest churches.
To learn more about the history of the Peterborough Cathedral, visit the official website.
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2017-06-14 07:09:03