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Tarvin History Group Visits Chester Cathedral

3rd July 2016 @ 6:06am – by Margaret Dixon
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We are lucky to have a member of our group who is a Chester Cathedral guide so we decided that a tour of the Cathedral would make an interesting visit.
Twelve members and friends spent Monday morning, 27th June, enjoying the history of the Cathedral.

Originally on the site was a Roman temple, followed by two Saxon churches, before the Cathedral was founded in 1092. We saw the older parts, built in Romanesque style (Norman arches) which as the building developed gave way to the Gothic style.

In the Chapter House we saw early Gothic (1250) which used extra pillars in the windows to support a new roof structure. The Lady Chapel followed and now holds the shrine of St. Werburgh whose remains originally came from Ely to keep them safe from the attacking Danes
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The Refectory has a rare example of a built in pulpit dating from 1220.

Of more modern interest are boys' names carved into the walls after it became the King's School after the dissolution of the monasteries. Above today's serving counter there are colourful stained glass windows, from 1951, depicting the Creation.

In the nave there was a 130 year time gap between the construction of the arches on either side due to the Black Death which killed so many stonemasons that it took so long to complete the other side.
Standing in the nave we could see the Chester Imp, who is the Devil in Chains and the Cathedral Organ which has 4860 pipes in total.

George Gilbert Scott was responsible for the work in Victorian times when walls were removed to open up what used to be the monastic part of the building. In the Quire Stall he cleverly had carving done to match the original woodwork from 1380. This is some of the best carving in the country and can be viewed at close quarters.

We walked around the cloisters and went into the garden where the water supply for the brick-walled pond was pumped from the Christleton area, now called Abbott's Well.

This wonderful building, situated on our doorstep , has so much to offer.

Ed"During the school holidays, from 16th July to 4th September, there is to be an exhibition of Lego models celebrating the world of transport. (There is a charge for this exhibition)"

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