Peterborough Cathedral

Building Data Building Images Companies

Images

8.0

A place of worship on the site of Peterborough Cathedral was founded in around 655 by Peada of Mercia and survived until it was destroyed by Vikings in 870.
Rebuilding started on the abbey in 972 and survived Norman invaders and local uprisings until it was destroyed by fire in 1116.
Work then began on the existing building which took 120 years to complete and was consecrated in 1238.
Much of the early Norman style was rebuilt as Gothic in the following century and fan vaulting was added from the early 15th century.
Peterborough is unique amongst English cathedrals for its 'French' design. Whilst the English favoured tall towers and relatively low naves Peterborough has the tallest nave in England and a low central tower. It also has some of the earliest examples of fan vaulting.
The three entrance arches to the cathedral are 27m tall.
It survived the reformation of the Church of England thanks to having the body of Katherine of Aragon, Henry the 8th's first wife when it was elevated to cathedral status but it was badly vandalised in the English civil war with much of the stained glass being completely destroyed.
Restoration work started piecemeal in the the later half of the 17th century but it was not until 1883 that full scale work was done and the cathedral was restored to its former glory.