gothic cathedrals Archives - Books And Travel

Ely Cathedral, England

In late September 2024, I visited Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, in the south-east of England. In this article, I’ll share some of the most interesting aspects and some of my photos from the trip so you can virtually join me in this beautiful place. This trip also partially inspired my short story, Seahenge.

Ely Cathedral dates back to 673 AD when St. Etheldreda, an Anglo-Saxon queen and abbess, founded a double monastery for both monks and nuns on the site. The cathedral was originally built to house her relics and her shrine was a significant pilgrimage site in medieval times.

Ely Cathedral main entrance Photo by JFPenn Sept 2024 — Ely Cathedral main entrance, Photo by JFPenn Sept 2024

Bristol Cathedral, England

Religious

In May 2023, I visited Bristol Cathedral. I have been there many times before as I lived in Bristol and went to school there in the 1980s and early 1990s, but this time, I was visiting with a new perspective, as research for my book on Gothic Cathedrals.

Bristol Cathedral Photo by JFPenn — Bristol Cathedral from College Green, Photo by JFPenn

It was a rainy and unseasonably cold day, but the wild flowers were in bloom in the meadow outside. This area was once an ancient meadow and burial ground, and now College Green is a wide open green space used by the community for events, protests, and enjoying the sun — when it arrives!

Wells Cathedral, England

Religious

Wells is a small city in Somerset, England, not far from where I live in Bath. The construction of Wells Cathedral began in 1175 and was largely completed by the mid-13th century making it one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals in England.

In this article, I take you through the highlights based on my visit in May 2024.

Wells Cathedral west front Photo by JFPenn — Wells Cathedral west front. Photo by JFPenn

The cathedral’s west front is adorned with nearly 300 statues of saints, kings, angels, and biblical characters. Many are weathered and eroded, with some being replaced by new carvings. Originally, many of the statues and the west front itself were painted in vibrant colours, though much of the paint has worn away over the centuries.

Salisbury Cathedral, England

Places, Religious

In late April, I visited Salisbury Cathedral in the south-west of England. It’s only an hour from where I live in Bath. I’ve used the cathedral as one of the settings for my ARKANE thriller, End of Days, and revisited it as part of my research for a new project on Gothic Cathedrals.

Salisbury Cathedral has the tallest spire in the United Kingdom, standing at 404 feet (123 meters). It has had scaffolding around it for the last 38 years so I was lucky to be able to see it newly uncovered.

Unlike many medieval cathedrals built over centuries with varying styles, Salisbury Cathedral was constructed within a relatively short period (1220-1258). This gives it a consistent Early English Gothic style, which is rare as most other cathedrals blend styles as they were constructed over longer periods.

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