What are the 13 English Medieval Cathedrals built from Norman times onwards?

York is a Minster,so we can scratch that one, I guess, huge as it is. Along with Southwell Minster in notts.

so...Durham

Salisbury

Lincoln

Exeter

Norwich

Canterbury

Chichester

Rochester

Hereford

Gloucester

Worcester

Lichfield

Wells

Chester (might not fit the criteria, I believe it may have been part of the abbey),and St Albans is also part of an abbey.

Does Leicester have one?i remember a large medieval church but again it may not have been designated a cathedral till relatively modern times.

I am pretty sure Truro is modern,Coventry is a modern horror next to the ruins of the old burned out church (which wasn't a cathedral) and Derby's church,though with medieval foundations, was only made a cathedral in recent times.

Norman Cathedral

Canterbury, York,Gloucester Cathedral,Lincoln Cathederal

I don't know any, but St Albans isn't one of them. I live in St Albans. The Abbey was built a few hundred years after the death of Alban, in Roman times.

Canterbury, Rochester, Durham, Hereford, Lincoln, Winchester, Salisbury, Norwich, Worcester, Lichfield, Exeter, Wells, St Albans

actually this is pure guesswork - i don't really know!

Bristol Cathedral

College Green, Bristol, Bristol, England, BS1 5TJ, Website: www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk, Email: reception@bristol-cathedral.co.uk, Tel: 0117 926 4879, Fax: 0117 9253678.

Established by Augustinian canons in 1140. Of the early Norman church little remains but the chapter house (1150-70). The chancel, aisles, and Lady chapel were built 1298-1330. What makes Bristol unusual for England is that the aisles are built to the same height as the choir, in the style common to the late German Gothic "hall church". The chancel contains one of the earliest examples of lierne vaulting in the world. A little overwhelmed by this later work is an Anglo-Saxon carving dated to c.1000AD of Christ at the Harrowing of Hell.

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury, Kent, England, CT1 2EH, Website: www.canterbury-cathedral.org, Email: Enquiries@canterbury-cathedral.org, Tel: 01227 762 862.

Even if Thomas à Becket had chosen somewhere else to earn his martyr's crown, Canterbury would still deserve attention for its role in the spread of Christianity throughout England. It was here that St. Augustine began the conversion of the pagan islanders in 597. Nothing remains of the Saxon church, for after the Norman conquest Archbishops Lanfranc and Anselm rebuilt it on a more lavish scale. Of this first Norman church the crypt, the southeastern tower, and the eastern transept still stand. In 1170 Becket met his death in the north transept of the crossing at the hands of four knights seeking to curry favour with Henry II, who had quarelled with the Archbishop. Immediately afterwards miracles began to be reported at Becket's tomb, and when the church suffered a major fire in 1172 it provided an excuse for rebuilding and making the cathedral a fitting shrine for the recent martyr.

Carlisle

Carlisle, Cumbria, England, CA3 8TZ, Website: www.carlislecathedral.org.uk, Email: office@carlislecathedral.org.uk, Tel: 01228 548151, Fax: 01228 547049.

Carlisle Cathedral bears the scars of 900 years spent in this most tumultuous of regions. The original nave, built in 1092 as a collegiate church, has only two bays remaining. The transepts and tower date from the 15th century. The glories of Carlisle are the east window, one of the best examples of decorated tracery anywhere, and the delicately carved capitals in the choir, depicting the seasons.

Chichester

Chichester, West Sussex, England, PO19 1PX, Website: www.chichestercathedral.org.uk, Email: enquiry@chichestercathedral.org.uk, Tel: 01243 782595, Fax: 01243 812499.

In 1075 Chichester came to prominence with the transfer of the bishop's seat from Selsey, on the coast. The Norman work here is largely 12th century. In the 13th century the wooden roof of the nave was replaced with stone vaulting. A unique feature of Chichester is the freestanding bell tower.

Durham

Durham, County Durham, England, Website: www.durhamcathedral.co.uk, Email: enquiries@durhamcathedral.co.uk, Tel: 0191 386 4266.

Durham is one of the high points of cathedral architecture in this or any other land. The site helps; the church is perched above a bend of the River Wear and ringed below with trees. The cathedral was founded in 995 as a final resting place for the remains of Saint Cuthbert, which had been carted about for over a century since they were removed from Lindisfarne and the threat of the Danes. Cuthbert's followers built the White Church here, but it was pulled down by the second bishop of Durham when the present building was begun in 1093. The nave is astonishing; the relatively slender composite piers alternate with massive drum columns. In this building the three main innovations of the revolutionary Gothic style come together: pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.

Ely

Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, Email: receptionist@cathedral.ely.anglican.org, Website: www.cathedral.ely.anglican.org, Tel: 01353 667735, Fax: 01353 665658.

Ely is best known, and rightly so, for its extraordinary octagonal lantern tower. When the Norman tower fell in 1322 a new tower was erected, using oak beams to support 400 tons of stone and lead in a structure at once massive and airy. The first church here was erected in 673 by St. Aetheldreda, and rebuilt in 870 following Danish raids. In 1109, in the midst of another rebuilding, Ely was raised to cathedral status. At that time the country around Ely was marsh, and the cathedral rose like a beacon on the only spot of dry land for miles around.

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter, Devon, England, Website: www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk, Email: visitors@exeter-cathedral.org.uk, Tel: 01392 285 983, Fax: 01392 285 986.

The church here was begun in the 11th century, but most of what remains is the result of rebuilding between 1275-1375. The Lady chapel and retrochoir were added at this time, to be followed by the presbytery and the choir. The nave was built in the mid 14th century, under the direction of Richard Farleigh, who was also responsible for the spire at Salisbury. The vaulting extends for an extraordinary 300 feet, making it the longest uninterrupted stone vault in Britain. The carving is wonderful, particularly in the Minstrel's gallery (look for the 14 angels, each carrying a different musical instrument) and the pulpitum.

Hereford Cathedral

Hereford, Herefordshire, England, Website: www.herefordcathedral.co.uk, Tel: 01432 374202.

Hereford was founded in Saxon times to house the shrine of Saint Ethelbert, a murdered king of East Anglia. A carefully preserved tooth of the saint was highly venerated in the Middle Ages. The church underwent several stages of rebuilding, most notably in the 13th century, when the north transept was built. Look at the triforium arches; they are triangular, almost straight-sided, an unusual effect known as the Geometric style. Hereford gained its second major shrine when miracles were reported at the tomb of Bishop Thomas de Cantilupe, who died in 1282.

Lichfield Cathedral

19A The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, WS13 7LD, Website: www.lichfield-cathedral.org, Email: enquiries@lichfield-cathedral.org Tel: 01543 306100, Fax: 01543 306109.

Lichfield's three towers, the "Ladies of the Vale", preside over a beautiful, though much restored, exterior. The cathedral suffered badly during the Civil War, being alternately beseiged and used to house soldiers and horses. It has also suffered from being built of sandstone, which is wonderful material for carving the statues which festoon its west front, but not so good at preserving the final effects of the mason's art. The statues that you can see today are Victorian replacements for earlier work. The nave is late 13th century. Of special note is the chapter house, built to a strange elongated octagonal design, and the Lady chapel, which is out of alignment to the main church.

Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, LN2 1PZ, Website: www.lincolncathedral.com, Email: visitors@lincolncathedral.com, Tel: 01522 544544.

If Lincoln were merely an empty shell, it would still deserve a visit for the extraordinary exterior. Here is art in stone. The west front, in particular, is magnificent in its use of sculptural detail and the richness of its design. Lincoln was largely rebuilt beginning in 1186 after a fire destroyed the earlier Norman church. Under the direction of Hugh of Avalon (Great Saint Hugh), the choir and eastern transepts were built, followed (1215-55) by the nave and chapter house. The angel choir is a masterpiece of the Decorated style. Look up at the central tower. It rises to 271 feet. Now imagine a spire extending another 284 feet up! That tower fell down in 1548. In the south east porch is the "Judgement Portal", with its marvellous relief carvings of Christ presiding over the Last Day, and in the choir is the "crazy vault" of intertwining ribs crisscrossing the bay. Everywhere you look are incredible carvings in wood and stone.

Norwich Cathedral

Norwich, Norfolk, England, Website: www.cathedral.org.uk, Email: vis-profficer@cathedral.org.uk, Tel: 01603 218 321.

Herbert de Losinga bought the bishopric of Thetford from William Rufus and moved it to Norwich in 1094. Then, ostensibly because he repented of the sinful act of buying his position, the bishop built a cathedral as an act of expiation. The bishop's cathedra, or throne of stone, was brought to the new building, and it can be seen today behind the altar. In 1272 a quarrel broke out between the prior of the cathedral and the townsfolk of Norwich when the prior tried to collect tolls for a fair. The enraged townsfolk threw burning brands onto the roof of the cathedral, with predictable results. The city paid a heavy fine and the church was rebuilt. One unusual feature for England is the rounded apse behind the high altar. Look for the carvings on the bosses of the nave and in the cloister walk.

Peterborough Cathedral

Peterborough, England, PE1 1XS, Website: www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk, Email: info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk, Tel: 01733 343342, Fax: 01733 355316.

The first monastery here goes back to 655, when the royal family of the kingdom of Mercia converted to Christianity. That monastery was sacked by the Norse in 870 and rebuilt about 100 years later. This late Saxon church survived attack by Hereward the Wake in 1070, but fell to a servant's carelessness with fire in 1116. The nave, rounded apse, transepts, and chancel were completed by 1175.

Rochester

Rochester, Kent, England, ME1 1SX, Website: www.rochester.anglican.org/cathedral, Tel: 01634 843366.

Although it is overshadowed by its near neighbour Rochester Castle, the cathedral has a fascinating history. Second only to Canterbury in age (the see was established in 604). For all its early history, the cathedral as we see it is mostly 12th century. The west door is a notable example of Romanesque sculpture. Rochester became

Canterbury

Chester

Chichester

Durham

Ely

Gloucester

Hereford

Lichfield

Lincoln

Salisbury

Wells

Winchester

Worcester

Possibly...?