peterborough cathedral

i'd say that this corbel proves that not every triple face refers to the trinity! it's in the ruined infirmary which was built c.1250 on the traditional nave and aisles plan. the nave is open to the sky, the aisles have houses built into them, as at ely.

this arcade and the great corbel figure are at the west end of the nave of the ruined infirmary. it was built c.1250 on the traditional nave and aisles plan. the nave is open to the sky, the aisles have houses built into them, as at ely.

an angel and a dog from the ruined infirmary , built c.1250 on the traditional nave and aisles plan. the nave is open to the sky, the aisles have houses built into them, as at ely.

the gatehouse from the outer court to the abbots' quarters by the west range dates from the early c13, say 1240 judging by the superb statues on its face.

the early c13 jumble of motifs on the west front weakens the power of the giant porch, built between 1180 and 1238

the back wall of the 3 giant arches of the west front was built to take arches and vaults of a different design, with the side arches slightly smaller than the central one. the effect of widening them shows here in the skewed vault, and in the doors no longer being central to each outer arch. these changes were made in the process of building between 1180 and 1238 in order to widen the west front as an external reredos such as was produced at wells etc. at this time.

the gatehouse from the outer court to the abbots' quarters by the west range dates from the early c13, say 1240 judging by the superb statues on its face.

large gargoyles project from the base of each gable on the west front of 1180-1238. there is a profusion of carved motifs that fails to gell into a strong design. some statues are old, some new by alan durst.

the gatehouse from the outer court to the abbots' quarters by the west range dates from the early c13, say 1240 judging by the superb statues on its face.

the gables above the west front are not centred on the arches below, nor are they of a design strong enough to top such grand arches. the muddle of c13 arcades and sculpture does not help. again, the c14 spire on the south west turret, whilst a pretty conception in itself, appears flimsy as a stop to such a front.

the west front, whilst something of a dog's dinner design-wise, is still a wonder to experience, much more spectacular in person than in any photo. between its start c.1180 and its completion in 1238 the design suffered several major changes; the back wall of the porch showing a different rhythm to the front arches, which messes up the vaulting, the gables and worst of all leaves one with the central arch smaller than those to each side. the porch of the late c14 exacerbates matters, though the front as a whole still has immense force .

the gatehouse from the outer court to the abbots' quarters by the west range dates from the early c13, say 1240 judging by the superb statues on its face.

the gatehouse from the outer court to the abbots' quarters by the west range dates from the early c13, say 1240 judging by the superb statues on its face.

the lady chapel , built like those of peterborough and bristol to the north of the choir, was originally a mass of colourful sculpture and glass. built 1335-53 after a false start at foundations in 1321. some of the design probably dates from the earlier date.

c14 misericord, now in s.w.transept chapel on stall back

c14 misericord, now in s.w.transept chapel on stall back

c14 misericord, now in s.w.transept chapel on stall back

a jester's head forms a stop to a moulding of the mid c14 in the apse behind the altar