Peterborough Cathedral
West front of Peterborough Cathedral in Sept 2005. © Paradoxplace.com
The facade is currently (September 2007) under scaffolding for repairs.
View of the cathedral from the site of the cloisters, looking southwest.
Norman south door leading into the former cloisters.
View of the south transept and nave exterior from the cloisters.
South transept, central tower and east end, from the south.
The great Norman nave, with an unbroken view to the east end.
The tower crossing, with nave at the top and transepts to the sides.
Medieval painted ceiling of the nave.
Tomb of Katherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII.
Ciborium (bottom) and ceiling of the apse.
The Italian-style ciborium in the apse.
Peterborough Cathedral is a monastic cathedral in Cambridgeshire, England. The Norman cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter, Paul and Andrew and is unusual among medieval cathedrals in Great Britain because of its triple front (dominated by the statues of the three saints) and overall asymmetrical appearance.
The current Anglican cathedral stands on the site of a monastic church founded by King Peada of Mercia in 655. The monastic settlement was destroyed by Vikings in 870, but was revived in 972 by Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. The town surrounding the abbey was eventually named Peterburgh after the saint to whom the abbey was dedicated.
Although damaged during the struggle between the Norman invaders and local folk-hero, Hereward the Wake, the church was repaired, and continued to thrive until destroyed by fire in 1116.
This event necessitated the building of a new church, which took a total of 120 years to complete, and was consecrated in 1238.
The Norman tower was rebuilt in the Decorated Gothic style in about 1350, and the Perpendicular fan vaulting was added between 1496 and 1508. In 1541, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the church survived by being selected as the cathedral of the new diocese of Peterborough.
The former English queen Catherine of Aragon was buried in the cathedral's cemetery in 1536. In 1587, the body of Mary Queen of Scots was also buried here, but was later removed to Westminster Abbey on the orders of her son, King James I of England.
The cathedral was vandalized during the English Civil War. Almost all the stained glass was destroyed, and the altar and reredos were demolished, as were the cloisters and Lady Chapel. Some of the damage was repaired during the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1883, extensive restoration work began, with the interior pillars, the choir and the west front being completely rebuilt.
In the 1960s new figures were added to the West Front and in the 1970s the spectacular hanging cross was added to the nave. Since a disastrous fire in November 2001 a massive cleaning and restoration program has been undertaken.
Inside Peterborough Cathedral is an excellent permanent exhibition on the history of the cathedral and the daily life of a Benedictine monk. There are also scale models showing how the cathedral was constructed.
The grave of Catherine of Aragon can still be seen, and is still honored by visitors, who decorate the tomb with flowers and pomegranates (her symbol). The tomb proclaims her "Katharine, Queen of England," a title she was denied at the time of her death.
The cathedral's official website suggests the following six highlights for visitors with limited time:
- The West Front with its unique English Gothic Portico.
- The 13th century painted nave ceiling.
- The burial places of Catharine of Aragon and of Mary Queen of Scots.
- The fan vaulting of the New Building Ceiling.
- The Hedda stone (8th Century Saxon carving from the original church).
- St Oswald's chapel with its 12th-century watchtower.
| Address: | Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1XS England |
| Phone: | 01733 355300 |
| Web: | http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/ |
| E-mail: | info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk |
| By rail: | Travel to Peterborough Station (London, Cambridge and Leicester 55 mins; York 1hr 15 mins.) and walk through the city center (10 mins). |
| By car: | Follow signs from the A1 or approach via A15, A47, or A605. No parking in the Precincts, but plentiful parking nearby. Coach drop-off points close to the Cathedral and Coach Park on Bright Street. |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 9-6:30; Sat 9-5; Sun 7:30-5 |
| Tours: | Apr-Sept: Daily at 2pm; Oct-Mar: regular tours (call ahead) |
| Cost: | Free admission; suggested donation £3.50 adults; £2.50 concessions. Tours: £3.50 adults; £2.50 concessions. |
| Photos: | Permitted but must buy a £2 photo permit. |
| Toilets: | Available in the Cathedral, Beckets Restaurant, the Education Centre and the Business Café. |
| Services: | Sundays: 8am Holy Communion; 9:15am Choral Matins; 10:30am Cathedral Eucharist; 3:30pm Choral Evensong Weekdays: 7:30am Matins and Eucharist; 11am Wed Holy Communion; 3:30pm Sat Choral Evensong; 5:30pm Mon Choral Evensong |
Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of Peterborough Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our England Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Personal visit (September 10, 2007)
- Peterborough Cathedral – official website
- Peterborough Cathedral – Cathedrals in the East of England
- Peterborough Cathedral – UK Heritage
- Peterborough Cathedral – Britain Express Cambridgeshire
- Peterborough Cathedral – The Heritage Trail
- Peterborough Cathedral – IgoUgo user review and photos
- Peterborough Cathedral Pictures – Helen Stephenson
