Gloucester Cathedral

[poliphilo]

This is what I love. Over the past three days I've been in three cathedrals, one stone circle and a ruined abbey and I've climbed Glastonbury Tor in the early morning. 

The weather held up. We were promised rain- which would have made much of what we did unfeasible. Would I have tramped round Avebury on a chilly evening if it had also been throwing it down?  I don't think so. On the morning I climbed the Tor we had clear sunshine for a critical hour or two and the small birds were singing and it was like I was 18 again.

On the way down we stopped at Gloucester for lunch. Neither of us had ever been there before. Gloucester cathedral is airy and delicate- "like an ivory carving" said Ailz. I think it's the loveliest cathedral in England. But it's not all delicate; the pillars in the nave are massy and romanesque and though I love the gothic it's the romanesque that moves me most deeply; I don't know why. The cloisters have glorious15th fifteenth century fan vaulting. They featured in a couple of the Harry Potter films And are going to show up in the next as well. While we were there a small gang of workmen was setting up lights and laying the wooden foundations of something or other in the cloister garth.

 

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

Those are beautiful; especially the second one with the orange lighting in it.

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do love fan vaulting.
Can't wait (also) to see pictures of Avebury -I was there more than 30 years ago. I can't hardly believe it was so long ago.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

Absolutely fabulous! I LOVE the hallway.

[msjann65.livejournal.com]

What a delicious birthday week you are having! How I envy you!

trip

[(Anonymous)]

It looks impressive and inspiring. I love arched ceilings and to imagine how they built them back then....
Hope you had a lovely birthday.
How was the Travelodge? We may stay there on the way to visit Jo in the West Country. It looks like a great position for sightseeing. Ian wants to see Wells. We are taking Ma.
love Jenny

[jenny_evergreen]

Guess I know what I worship now...all I can think looking at the pictures is that it would make a lovely library...

[sovay]

These are gorgeous; especially the second photograph, which looks like honeycomb. Thank you for sharing!

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Did you get any photos of the Burne-Jones windows?

[sculptruth.livejournal.com]

You really know how to have a birthday!!! And wow, that really is high Gothic, isn't it? Are there other cathedrals in Britain that are later Gothic than this? How beautiful.

Happy belated, by the way :)

[oakmouse]

Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. The second picture, especially. Thank you!

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

That cloister pic with the stained glass is amazing. Lovely bit of fan vaulting! I have never been to Gloucester but I really ought to get over there and have a look.