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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Gloucester Cathedral
Cathedral
Cathedral
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Gloucester Cathedral

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 County

Gloucestershire (4 castles) 

 Categories

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location51.8675,-2.2468 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Gloucestershire (4 castles) 

 Categories

 Remains

Excellent remains

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
51.8675,-2.2468
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
loucester Cathedral's history goes back a long time. In 681 King Ethelred gave Osric permission to found a monastery in Gloucester in honour of St. Peter. In 1048, A few years before the Norman Conquest of 1066, the site was used by Aldred, bishop of Worcester, to found a Benedictine Monastery. The city of Gloucester being an important royal city at the time.

William the Conqueror found the monastery in a state of decay and he appointed the first Norman abbot, Serlo, in 1072. Serlo started major rebuilding work in 1089 that lasted until he died in 1104. The abbey church he built was consecrated in 1100. When Serlo died, in 1104, he was succeeded by Prior Peter and during his reign, the abbey church was given many donations of land. One of these being Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son. An effigy of Robert can be seen in the Cathedral. The abbey also became an important Benedictine house in this century.

Above is a photograph of the Great Cloister. Normally cloisters are normally built to the south of the church but in this case they lie to the north. This may have been because of a lack of open space to the south. The cloisters may have been rebuilt between the middle and late 14th century and contain the first fan vaults to be seen in Britain. Fire played its part in the development of the abbey as the original Norman church had a wooden roof and was under constant threat. The abbey church was under constant financial threats as the cost of maintaining and adding to the building was so high. In 1284, John de Gamages became abbot at Gloucester and through his farming knowledge increased the stocks of sheep owned by the abbey and returned a profit. After de Gamages reign things again took a down turn, until the death of King Edward II. The King was buried at Gloucester and the number of pilgrims that visited the abbey gave it a much needed boost. Gloucester Cathedral was used as a location for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Location

See Also

People

  • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
  • Robert (II, Duke of Normandy 1087-1106)
  • Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Related Information

  • Timeline of abbey foundations
  • The origin of monasteries
  • The Cistercian order of monks

Related Maps

  • Map of Cathedrals

Related Episodes

Isabella, She-Wolf of France and death of Edward II (click here)

Isabella, She-Wolf of France and death of Edward II (click here)

The First Barons' War (click here)

The First Barons' War (click here)

Timeline

1048

...

Aldred founds Monastery at Gloucester

Aldred, bishop of Worcester refounded a monastery at Gloucester. A monastery had already been founded at Gloucester in 681 by Ostric.

1058

...

Gloucester Cathedral rebuilding starts

Under the direction of Wulfstan, the future Bishop of Worcester, construction work began at Gloucester Cathedral. The new building was burnt down and rebuilt later by Abbot Serlo. ¹

1072

...

Serlo takes over at Gloucester

Serlo, William the Conqueror's chaplain, revived the floundering monastery at Gloucester and started major rebuilding work. Serlo died in 1104.

1089

...

Serlo builds the crypt at Gloucester

Some seventeen years after taking his position at Gloucester, Serlo built the crypt.

1100

July 13

Abbey Church at Gloucester dedicated

The abbey church at Gloucester built by Abbot Serlo was dedicated by Samson the Bishop of Worcester, Gundulph the Bishop of Rochester and Harvey Bishop of Bangor.

1122

...

Gloucester fire

A fire that started in the town of Gloucester spread to the Cathedral destroying treasures and all but a few books. ¹

1134

...

Death of Robert Curthose

Robert Curthose, William the Conqueror's eldest son, died in captivity in Cardiff Castle where he had been locked up since being defeated by his brother in 1106. Robert was buried in Gloucester Cathedral where there is an effigy of him still.

1216

October 28

King Henry III Crowned

King John's eldest son Henry was crowned King Henry III at the abbey church of Gloucester by Peter des Roches the Bishop of Winchester. The Earl of Pembroke, Earl Marshal of England (William Marshal), was declared Regent.

1232

...

Oaks given to Gloucester

Henry III donated one hundred and ten oaks from the forest of Dean to help in repair work at Gloucester church.

1327

September

Edward II murdered at Berkeley Castle

Edward was buried at the abbey church at Gloucester.

1377

...

Building work at Gloucester Cathedral

Work on Perpendicular style choir and cloisters was begun at Gloucester Cathedral.

1378

October

Parliament at Gloucester

King Richard II held a parliament at Gloucester Abbey from October to December. It put a large strain on the abbey due to the size of the crowds.  ¹

1540

January

Abbey at Gloucester surrenders

The monastery at Gloucester surrendered to Henry VIII as part of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. ¹

1541

...

Gloucester given Cathedral status

The abbey at Gloucester became a Cathedral at the centre of its own diocese. Previously it had been part of the Worcester diocese. John Wakeman was assigned as the first bishop.  ¹

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Medieval people

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. T. Francis Bumpus, The Cathedrals of England and Wales, 1934
  • 2. Abbot Gasquet, The Greater Abbeys of England, 1908

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • William (I, the Conqueror, King of England 1066-1087)
    • Robert (II, Duke of Normandy 1087-1106)
    • Henry (I, King of England 1100-1135)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Related Information

    • Timeline of abbey foundations
    • The origin of monasteries
    • The Cistercian order of monks

    Related Maps

    • Map of Cathedrals
    3D/VR

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