Newcastle Cathedral is Grade I listed and dates from the early 14th century. For over 900 years it has been at the centre of the city’s spiritual and civic life as evidenced by its memorials and ledger stones (grave covers) which, together, reveal much of the heritage of Newcastle and the wider region.

The Cathedral boasts one of the finest lantern towers in the country, dominating the skyline since the 15th century. Pevsner describes it as “Four flying buttresses leaning against each other and holding up a tall square lantern, battlemented and pinnacled – a rare form of medieval crown in Britain”. The building retains substantial elements of medieval fabric as well as evidence of its development over a number of historical periods, with examples of work by prominent architects including Daniel Garrett, John and Benjamin Green, John Dobson, and George Gilbert Scott.

Internally the Cathedral contains one of the largest collections of monuments and ledger stones in northern England; it also boasts medieval heraldic bosses and a fine medieval font with a contemporary wooden cover with elaborate gothic tracery, and a stone effigy of an unknown medieval knight. The 19th century chancel embellishments showcase wood and stone working skills by Ralph Hedley, Robert Beall and J S Westmacott. The whole presents a beautifully integrated appearance, displaying superb artistry and craftsmanship executed in the medieval style.

The chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas was originally the parish church of Nether Haddon. The chapel has been extended over the years and contains some of the earliest masonry in the fabric of the hall.*

The walls in the chapel display some fine fresco seccoes which would have originally have been brightly coloured. It is thought that the fresco seccoes were commissioned in the early 15th century. The paintings were whitewashed over during the reformation and there is some evidence of deliberate defacement. As part of early 20th century restoration work the 9th Duke of Rutland arranged for the paintings to be uncovered and restored.*

*From the Haddon Hall guide book