Norwich Cathedral

A vast building, especially when viewed internally, Norwich Cathedrals height is accentuated by the slender Romanesque arcading and the elegant Lierne ceiling vaulting spanning the nave of the great Norman church. In 1091 Herbert de Losinga bought the bishopric of East Anglia from the Crown and within five years he had begun to build Norwich Cathedral, as part of a traditional Benedictine monastery. Nearly half a century later and this massive structure was almost complete. Now remembered by a 17th century black slab, Bishop Herbert de Losinga lies at rest in front of the high altar. Nearby is the Bishop's Throne, an interesting combination of 20th century wood set against fragments of stone that appear to pre-date Norwich Cathedral.

Many features at Norwich are unique among English cathedrals, the most noted of which is the preservation of the entire original floor plan created by Bishop Herbert de Losinga. Fourteen bays make up the length of the aisle and at the east end is an unusual arrangement of ambulatory and radiating chapels. Some of the oldest stained glass in Norwich Cathedral, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, can be seen in the ambulatory. A magnificent range of pictorial roof bosses in the nave provides yet further evidence that Norwich Cathedral was built to impress and educate.

The 1,106 highly-coloured, carved timber bosses depict the world's Christian history, and offered an easy method of learning in the early illiterate ages. A remarkable example of medieval wall painting has survived in the south nave aisle. It is amazing that any decoration from the 12th century exists because, during the riots of 1272, much of Norwich Cathedral was seriously damaged by fire, and subsequent repairs inevitably entailed redecoration. Unarguably the greatest treasure at Norwich is the reredos in St Luke's Chapel, often referred to as the 'Despenser Reredos', and dates from the 1380s. The painted oak screen is an extraordinary work of art, depicting the life of Christ.

Not only is Norwich Cathedral a complete treasure trove on the inside, but is also boasts substantial cloisters. To enter the cloisters, second only in size to Salisbury Cathedral, another piece of fine craftsmanship will be noticed. The Prior's Door has an elaborately moulded arch, beautifully detailed in colour and displaying a splendid array of sculptures. Many monastic buildings can be identified leading off the cloisters, and there is a strong sense of the importance attached to this area during the time it was used daily by the Benedictine monks.

Perhaps Norwich Cathedral cannot claim to be the most architecturally pleasing, due to numerous alterations over the centuries, but its sheer size and towering spire, certainly make it an identifiable landmark in Norfolk. Discovering the richness and quality of workmanship within Norwich Cathedral, where the later Gothic styling blends so harmoniously with the original Romanesque, more than makes up for what it apparently lacks in appearance externally.