8. LONDON Southwark Cathedral - The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie)

Cameo Snaphots of the City of London

2010

 London Index

Southwark Cathedral is just off the extremely busy Borough High Street to London Bridge Road in Southwark, on the south bank of the River Thames. It stands on the site of a Saxon church built around 666. It was rebuilt in 1106 by the Normans but after a fire in 1206 it was completely rebuilt as the first Gothic style church in London.

The base of the tower is Norman and the choir, chancel, aisle and pillars of the transept date from the early 13th century.

The south-east entrance to the Cathedral.

The great arches of the rebuilt nave which dates from the 13th century, but it was altered in 1469 and restored to its original style at the end of the 19th century to match the 13th century choir.

The crossing point of the north and south transepts.

Looking up and across into the North Transept (13th century) from the South Transept (14-15th century).

The Retro-Choir, built from 1215-1260 and is the oldest complete part of the Cathedral.

The High Alter and the Great Screen a masterpiece of Tudor stonemasonry (1520) in the chancel.

(left) Bosses from the original 15th century nave ceiling demolished in 1830. There were originally 150 of them. Others are found in the tower crossing (see 6th picture down from the top of the page).

(right) A monument and window (of 1954, not shown) to William Shakespeare (the alabaster effigy was made in 1912) and a tablet to Sam Wanamaker, founder of Shakespeare's Globe, Bankside.

(left) The tomb of the poet John Gower, died 1408, the 'First English Poet' and friend of Chaucer. He was Poet Laureate to Richard II and like his friend Chaucer, he wrote in English as well as French and Latin.

(right) A statue of a Roman 'Hunter God' found in archaeological excavations under the Cathedral.

The tower crossing and tower.

Near the entrance to the cafe and shop is part of the archaeological excavations left open for public display. Excavations in 1999 revealed part of a Roman road, foundations of the original Norman Priory wall, a 13th century medieval stone coffin and part of a late 17th century 'Delft' pottery kiln made of brick, one of the few surviving arched kilns found in Europe.

The tower of Southwark Cathedral from a commuter train approaching London Bridge Station.

The tower of Southwark Cathedral is now totally dwarfed by the gigantic 'Shard' building, arches of Southwark Bridge in the foreground

Southwark Cathedral, London Town & City - There is a cafe and shop inside the wonderful building of Southwark Cathedral. There is also Cafe Brood right beside the grounds of the Cathedral.

 

*  previous page <-> next page  *  London Index

London England docspics images pictures © Phil Brown

What to visit in London? Where to eat out in London? Where to stay in London? What Shows to see in London? Cheap Coaches to London Trains Flights to London, bargain train fares, luxury Hotels, B&B, self-catering holiday flats, budget accommodation in London, hostels to suit all budgets, tourism information, top tourist attractions in London, museums, art galleries, gardens, London guided tours, good local transport, buses, commuter trains, London underground tube stations, rover tickets, cheap train fares, River Thames boat trips, ticket booking, London buses, West End theatres, famous historic buildings in London, churches, London parks to walk in