Norwich cathedral

The cathedral was founded by the Norman bishop Herbert de Losinga, as the cathedral priory of the Benedictine monastery in Norwich. Construction started in 1096 , to be completed by 1145, which must have a set a record for such a vast building. The present spire of brick faced with stone, topping the square Norman tower, was built in 1480 and, at 96 metres, is second in height in England only to that of Salisbury Cathedral.

The nave

The choir

In the 15th and early 16th centuries, the cathedral's flat timber ceilings were replaced with stone vaults: the nave was vaulted under Walter Hart (bishop, 1446–72), the choir under James Goldwell (bishop, 1472–99) and the transepts after 1520.

The choir

The cathedral suffered severe storm damage in 1362, after which the clerestory of the choir was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style. The choir was vaulted in the last quarter of the 15th century.

The ambulatory

The Despenser Retable

Detail of the late 14th-century retable, probably commissioned by bishop Henry le Despenser, and depicting scenes from Christ's Passion.

The cloister

Norwich Cathedral has the largest monastic cloister in England. After the Norman cloister was destroyed in the riots of 1272, rebuilding started in 1297 and was completed by 1430.

The Prior's Door

Connecting the cathedral with the cloister the early 14th-century Prior's Door is deocrated with a beautifully carved arch, showing biblical figures, including a Moses with horns.

The martyrdom of Saint Lawrence

Norwich cathedral has some1,000 roof bosses, elaborately carved and painted undersides of the keystones, in the cloister and the church itself. The oldest in the clositer date from the late 13th or early 14th century.

The west façade

The apse and chapels

The rounded apse of Norwich cathedral is unusual for England.