Cathedrals, Churches, Abbey's and monastic ruins of England

51601 Views 145 Replies 18 Participants Last post by blar, Aug 12, 2014

yubnub

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2012

At some point in my life I decided to try and visit every cathedral in England (well at least all of the significant medieval ones). Along the way there were also many wonderful churches, monasteries and ruins so here are some photos of many of the finest buildings in England which I will attempt to update from time to time

In no particular order I might as well start with Exeter as the interior is the most beautiful and jaw dropping interior of any gothic cathedral in the world in my opinion
Looking down the nave, often described as a stone forest and also The longest line of unbroken ribbed arch vaulting in the world

Exter Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
In the nave looking west

Exeter Cathedral interior by barnyz, on Flickr
The west front

Exeter Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
A view from the east

Exeter Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 12, 2012

Hereford Cathedral. Hereford is more famous for being the home of the SAS but it is also home to a very fine cathedral

The nave, somewhat mixed with chunky romanesque piers supporting a gothic triforium and vault

Hereford Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
The exterior from the close on a rainy day

Hereford Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 12, 2012 (Edited)

St Albans. A small city just north of London

Unlike French cathedrals which are often very high the English preferred to build very long. St Albans while not the longest is a good example of the lengths that medieval builders went to to create spectacular buildings

St Albans Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
St Albans is one of the oldest of English cathedrals and contains many early romanesque elements such as the massive arches supporting the crossing tower

St Albans Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
The gothic west front

St Albans Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr

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streetlegal

· #4 · May 13, 2012

Hi Yubnub,

How did you get the time to visit every cathedral--something I thought of doing many years ago, but never did?

I guess, along the journey, you stumbled upon many an incidental pleasure, a hidden pub and interesting encounter that made the experience all the more fun . . .

Look forward to your photo-story.

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 13, 2012

streetlegal said:
Hi Yubnub,

How did you get the time to visit every cathedral--something I thought of doing many years ago, but never did?

I guess, along the journey, you stumbled upon many an incidental pleasure, a hidden pub and interesting encounter that made the experience all the more fun . . .

Look forward to your photo-story.

It took many years to visit them (about 6 years I think). Moving around the country from job to job helped as this made many of them doable as day trips. However ive probably missed some along the way (like small churches that become cathedrals in newer cities but they weren't in my cathedrals of England book which i was using as reference). I highly recommend trying though as the journy is half the fun

England is indeed full of hidden treasure and delights, i would need another thread for National Trust properties alone

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 13, 2012

Along the way were many hidden gems such as this tiny church in Old Milverton near Leamington Spa in the midlands

Sunset Old Milverton by barnyz, on Flickr

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 13, 2012

As well as impressive cathedrals there are many other large medieval buildings that are less famous

Tewkesbury Abbey is no longer a monastery but it is cathedral sized and impressive. Like many similar buildings the core of the building is romanesque (or Norman as we call it in the UK) but with many later gothic additions

Tewkesbury Abbey by barnyz, on Flickr
The massive romanesque piers in the nave

Tewkesbury Abbey by barnyz, on Flickr

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 13, 2012

Winchester Cathedral, another great example of an English cathedral of great length, this one has the longest nave and greatest overall length of any medieval cathedral. It's also the buriel place of Jane Austin one of Englands most famous novelists
The original building was romanesque but the nave was later remodelled in the perpendicular style

Winchester Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
The west front

Winchester Cathedral by barnyz, on Flickr
The famous flooded crypt

Winchester Cathedral, crypt by barnyz, on Flickr

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 13, 2012

Also in Winchester is the the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty
The Hospital of St Cross church

Hospital of St Cross by barnyz, on Flickr
The mostly romanesque interior of the church

Hospital of St Cross by barnyz, on Flickr

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openlyJane

· #10 · May 13, 2012

Great pictures. Exeter looks very impressive.

yubnub

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 13, 2012

openlyJane said:
Great pictures. Exeter looks very impressive.

thanks, Exeter Cathedral is not as big or as famous as some other English cathedrals but it it imo every bit as amazing.

aarhusforever

· #12 · May 14, 2012

I'm speechless...this is now my favorit thread :applause::applause::applause: Thank you, yubnub :cheers:

Linguine

· #13 · May 14, 2012

great photos, stunning details...:cheers:

Wapper

· #14 · May 14, 2012

I've only seen the one Hereford, but maybe I'll recognize some others that I've visited in the following pics.
English cathedrals are somewhat unknown, but that seems to be an underestimation. I must say that I am surprised to see all these churches and cathedrals in an open green space. I am more used to seeing Belgian and French cathedrals in the middle of dense cities. But they are very nice.

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yubnub

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 14, 2012

Wapper said:
I've only seen the one Hereford, but maybe I'll recognize some others that I've visited in the following pics.
English cathedrals are somewhat unknown, but that seems to be an underestimation. I must say that I am surprised to see all these churches and cathedrals in an open green space. I am more used to seeing Belgian and French cathedrals in the middle of dense cities. But they are very nice.

Im sure you will recognise some of the more famous ones such as St Paul's and Westminster Abbey in London and Salisbury and York.
Most of the cathedral's are in the middle of cities but it is another common feature of English cathedrals to be in these small city parks which is usually called the "cathedral green" or "cathedral close". Perhaps a result of many of them having once been monastic in origin.

thanks all for the comments, more soon!

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Jonesy55

· #16 · May 14, 2012 (Edited)

Nice thread, did you visit Fountains Abbey on your travels?

christos-greece

· #17 · May 14, 2012

Great, very nice photos from England about those churches

yubnub

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 14, 2012

Jonesy55 said:
Nice thread, did you visit Fountains Abbey on your travels?

I did, I liked it so much I went twice! It's truely a remarkable place. Ive not yet dug the pictures out of my spare HD but will post them once i do but might not be for a few pages

yubnub

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 14, 2012

As we're on the subject of ruined monasteries I thought I would post these pictures from the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. At one time this was one of the largest monastic complexes in England but now its nothing more than a picturesque ruin, I think only Fountains would rival it for size

View down what would have been the nave

Glastonbury Abbey by barnyz, on Flickr
Not much remains but ruins but the hieght of the piers that would have supported the crossing arch give an indication of the scale

Glastonbury Abbey by barnyz, on Flickr

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Wapper

· #20 · May 14, 2012

Did you visit Tintern Abbey? I know it's in Wales, but it is not far from the English border and it's really worth the detour.

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