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1. Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire
The magnificent 'Romanesque' Minster at Southwell, sometimes called the 'Cathedral of Nottinghamshire' has a long and distinguished history. A Roman Christian font was found in the area showing that Christian worship has been a part of Southwell's life from even before AD 400. Sometime after 956 a Saxon church was established on the site but almost no obvious trace of this structure which is mainly 12th century Norman stonework. The pyramidal spires of lead (sometimes called Rhenish caps), apparently unique to England, and known locally as 'pepperpots', were added to the west towers in 1879-1881.
The Romanesque 'curved' style of early Norman architecture in the supporting arches of the nave separating it from the north and south aisles. Between 1108 and 1150 the Normans built the current nave.
A sample of the wonderful medieval stone carving in Southwell Minster, not surprisingly, a major tourist attraction for visitors to Nottinghamshire. The Chapter House (through the doorway) was built in 1286 and is considered one of the finest in England and the stone carvings in this part of the church are world famous. |
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