Bristol Cathedral

An Augustinian abbey was founded on this site in 1140, but archaeological evidence suggests there may have been a religious house located here long before that time. After the Dissolution, the surviving buildings became the new cathedral, but it wasn't until the second half of the 19th century that the nave was completed.

Great care was taken by the Victorian architect to create a structure that looked very similar to the original abbey church, and which distinguishes Bristol Cathedral as one of the finest examples of a 'hall church' anywhere in the world. The sense of light and space throughout the building, as a result of its consistent height and its tall, single span arches, is unparalleled among other medieval cathedrals.

Unusually, Bristol Cathedral has two Lady Chapels: one located just beyond the north transept of the church is called the Elder Lady Chapel, and was built c1220; the other, built during the early 1300s, is called the Eastern Lady Chapel, and is traditionally situated behind the High Altar. As well as some exquisite but strange carvings, mostly of animals, birds and mythical beasts, the Elder Lady Chapel also contains the tomb of the ninth Lord Berkeley and his mother. The Eastern Lady Chapel is much more ornate, and was to be the mausoleum of the Berkeley family, displaying carved effigies of family members, coats of arms, and many other delightful artefacts. The Berkeley Chapel on the south side of the presbytery was founded after the death of Lady Berkeley in 1337, and this also contains carved shields, and the royal coat of arms.

As with most of these great cathedrals, there is such an abundance of fascinating architecture, beautiful carvings and interesting tombs, it becomes almost overwhelming and quite impossible to select a few items to focus on. However, with at least nine hundred years of history to uncover, there is bound to be something of interest to every visitor. Walking along the remaining side of the cloisters, leads to the fine, Norman Chapter House, virtually untouched since it was first constructed in the mid 12th century, and a marvellous testament to the ingenuity of the masons during that period.

To date, I have visited Bristol Cathedral on only two occasions, but the contrasting weather conditions throughout these visits gave me two entirely different perspectives. On a rather dreary, wet, November day the strength, and obvious medieval influence of the building, made it appear alarmingly inhospitable. Yet on a day when it was bathed in glorious spring sunshine, the ancient walls almost begged the passer-by to come and explore the past, present, and future of this magnificent monument.