Gloucester’s great Cloister is famous for its magnificent fan vaulting, which is believed to be the earliest example in England.
Originally built to house the monks, it provided space for them to live, work and meditate. In many abbeys, the cloisters were traditionally built on the south side, but at Gloucester, it unusually lies on the north.
Using the normal Benedictine layout, all of the domestic buildings would have originally branched off three of the cloister walks.
Begun in the late 14th century and finished by Abbot Froucester before 1412, it replaced an earlier Norman cloister.
The design itself incorporates a row of twenty carrels (niche like spaces), which would have originally houses desks for the monks to study. The Cloister also includes a lavatorium, (washing place) which would have made use of a local stream.
Glorious Gloucester. : )
Amazing Architecture
Avantgardistic alliterations, after all. : )
Glorious Gloucester Cloister
There are many awesome things in that building, which I will visit again now that my lad lives in Cheltenham. Some of the more modern stained glass is great too, if I remember the right Cathedral (having also visted Worcester on the same trip)
It is a building worthy of many visits
The Cathedral does have examples of modern stained glass, from the arts and crafts movement and also a fine example of art in The Chapel of St Thomas.
Yes I now see the glass I was thinking of in an earlier post here
Enjoy your visit with your lad and also your visit to the Cathedral
Wow, that ceiling and those stained windows are spectacular. Just beautiful.
The cloisters are breathtaking, I would love to go back and spend more time there
Wonderful architecture!
It is
i really like the features on the vaulted ceiling, CP. looks like a living thing almost, sinewy and with throbbing veins.
I had not thought of it like that, but now that you mention it…
Great sport, fan vaulting. Did it for years.
That could explain a lot…
Classic image of the cloisters, nice.
Funnily enough … heading that way later today and will pop in to the Cathedral at some point. Staying south of Evesham for a week.
I look forward to seeing your photos of the Cathedral and the other places you visit. Enjoy your stay