More information : [SK 9780 7182] St. Mary's Cathedral [TU]. (1)
The cathedral church, which replaced the earlier St. Mary's (the "Old Minster) [see SK 97 SE] on the transfer of the See from Dorchester c. 1075, was completed in 1082. It was built by Bishop Remi, and closely resembled the Conqueror's own church
of St. Etienne, at Caen.
The Norman building collapsed in 1185, and rebuilding was begun in 1192 by St. Hugh of Lincoln. The Great transept is c. 1205, the nave, completed about 1250, incorporates the altered original west front of the Norman minster. The central tower was rebuilt in 1307-11, the new presbytery called the Angel Choir, about 1255, and the Chapter house probably 1220 to 1235. Three sides of the cloister are late 13th century. The north side with library above, was built from Wren's designs, in 1674. (2-5)
In normal use. (6)
Lincoln Cathedral church was established c1072-1092 by Bishop Remigius. It was restored and extended following a fire between 1123-1148, for Bishop Alexander. It was then remodelled c1180-1200 by Richard the Mason and Geoffrey de Noiers for St Hugh of Avalon. The transepts were extended c1230-1235 by Michael "magister operis". The crossing tower was rebuilt c1240 by master mason Alexander, and then later heightened 1307-1311 by Richard of Stow. The Angel Choir was added 1256-1280, probably by Simon de Tresk. The cloisters date to c1290-1300, the chapter house C13, the song school to early C13, the Galilee porch to mid C13, the Cantelupe Chantry to 1355, the Fleming chantry (by John Porter) to 1431, the Russell chantry to 1494, the Langland chantry (by William Kitchin) to c1547, the Old Library to c1422 the Honywood Library (by Sir Christopher Wren) to 1674. The rooms under the west towers were built c1730 by James Gibbs and the Dean Wickham Library between 1909-1914 by Hodgson Fowler. Major restorations were carried out by James Gibbs, 1725, James Essex, 1761, J C Buckler, mid C19, J L Pearson, 1870-1893, Sir Charles Nicholson and Sir Francis Fox, 1921. The spires were removed from the towers in 1807.
Lincoln Cathedral is a mixture of various architectural styles including Romanesque, Early English, Perpendicular and Tudor Revival. It is based on a Latin Cross plan of nave with aisles and major and minor transepts.
For a full and very detailed description of the cathedral please refer to the Listed Buildings System. (7)
Lincoln Cathedral is an amalgamation of different architectural styles and features that have been developed through centuries of alterations, rebuilding and restorations. The first cathedral was Norman in style, based on a Latin Cross plan, built by Bishop Remigius circa 1072-1092.
The West Front of Lincoln Cathedral incorporates the surviving part of this early cathedral. Most of the Cathedral dates from the 13th century when it was rebuilt in the new gothic style. Later additions include the 14th century misericords, the Wren Library and the Duncan Grant frescoes.
In 1141 the Cathedral was damaged by fire and was rebuilt by Alexander 'the Magnificent' (Bishop of Lincoln, 1123-48).
An earthquake caused damage to the cathedral in 1185 and it was repaired by St Hugh (Bishop of Lincoln, 1186-1200) in 1192. It was rebuilt in the Gothic style with pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses.
The central tower collapsed in 1237 or 1239 and a new tower was built and the chapels were remodelled. This Angel Choir was consecrated in 1280.
For a detailed and informative description of the cathedral please visit the official Lincoln Cathedral website. (8)
There is on piece of documentary evidence that reveals that the chapter had considered building a cloister in the period before the chapter-house was built. A document of the 1180s, probably from 1184-7, refers to a parcel of land being assigned to a canon named Samson with the proviso that the grant would be rescinded if the chapter required the land to build a cloister. The date of the document is imprecise, which is unforunate. Although it probably refers to the first half of the decade and relates to the romanesque building that was brought down in 1185, were it to date to after 1186, then the cloister was being considerd for the new building for Bishop Hugh, 1185-2000, planned soon after his appointment, in which case it would have been the work of the mason who built the early Gothic choir. The possibility of a cloister conceived by the master of the complex spatial intricacies, and structural bravado, of the choir, is a very intriguing one. (9) |