Sunday, 11 November 2012

Peterborough and its Cathedral

After having a quiet morning we all went into Peterborough for the afternoon.  The place is huge, I am glad I didnt need to know my way around the shopping centre because I lost my sense of direction rather quickly this time.

I took a lot of photos, we had a coffee and cornish pasty at the Cornish Pasty Shop....of course, they were lovely as good as the ones we get at the Night Market in Rotorua.

 
 
I took a lot of photos, mainly of the old buildings, there were certainly some beauties about. The next few I just enjoyed the architecture, thinking aobut how these place were built so long ago, what sort of machinery was available in those days, it must have been a lot of back breaking work.
 




 
The sunset was beautiful and this time I got the church behind.
 
The next set of photos show the enterance to the cathedral as well as the site of the Thomas Beckett's Chapel. The cream building which shows of the left hand side of the photo. The site now holds a bank. Thomas has an interesting story he was an Archbishop who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on 29th December 1170. The chapel held the relics, it was built 1172 - 1190.
 
 
 
The centre of the photo is of course the entrance to the Cathedral, the towers of which can be seen in the background.
 
 
A close up of the archway to the cathedral
 
 
Peterborough Cathedral

 
All these next buildings belong to the Cathedral.




 
This is to the left hand side of the cathedral facing

 
Looking back towards the entrance
 
The idea that these building were built many years ago makes you realise how good the crafts man were and how well built the building were, I doubt buildings of today could last this long.
 
Next we entered the Cathedral to listen to the choir who were practicing for a concert, the music and voices were incredible.  I was to learn a few things here too, it was amazing to find out who was buried here and who had been.......
 
Photos for my son, these next set show how the cathedral changed over the years to what it is today, one part also shows how the cathedral was probably built.
 
 
Original saxon abby c 800



 
From the drawings you can see it was added to quite extentively over the centuries, the model below shows what it looks like today, though many of the building still surround it.
 
 
 
There is one more photograph to add to this part.  It shows a model of how the Cathedral was built, I thought my son would enjoy looking at the workings.
 


*This model shows the North Transept of the Cathedral as it may have appeared around 1150 whilst under construction.  It illustrates the use of developing building to provide access to the upper areas thus reducing the need for scaffolding.  Note the use of centring and observe how the piers were built with a rubble core, which was the chief reason why the central tower was unstable and had to be reconstructed twice.    *this is the note attached to the model. 

Now surprise, tthere were two royal burials at Peterborough Cathedral, to me it is two of the most famous Queens other than Elizabeth I.

 
The first wife of King Henry VIII

 
Mary Queen of Scots was removed from Peterborough and now lies at Westminster.  It was her son Charles the I  of England who had her moved.
 
The last of the photos of the Cathedral are mainly of alters, pulpits and stain glass windows, they were brilliant, however the one I did have of part of the ceiling is blurry so I have not added it.
 

 
This alter was made from marble
 



A few of the Stain Glass windows that surrounded us.
 
 
An old clock of the Cathedral
 
 
Showing three floors of building, probably closer to 6 floors in how we build today.

 
I didn't think this photo came out, was was very please to be able to put in my blog.  This is one of the wooden pulpits with the most astounding carvings in it that must have taken months of labour.
 
This is the last photograph for the cathedral.  The only other one I have to add now is one of a Christmas scene from the Shopping Centre.  It shows the Nativity scene, one I have always loved
 
 
I hope you enjoy the photos and the information .
 







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