More From Ripon Cathedral...

[endlessrarities]

One last foray into the structural details of Ripon Cathedral now - tomorrow we'll get into the fittings and monuments!

Here's a view of the Chapterhouse, which occupies the Romanesque apsidal-ended structure which has appears to have been swallowed up by the adjoining cathedral building:-

Yes, I know I've shown you this picture already, but it's probably good to remind you of the exterior, as I'm about to show you the interior:-
 

 

These round windows in the south wall are very curious.  They're reminiscent of something out of 'The Hobbit' or even 'Teletubbies!':-
 

 

From the outside, they appear similar to a ship's portholes:-

 

Above the chapel is a later addition.  In the medieval period, it was known as the 'Lady Loft', and it would have functioned as a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.  In the seventeenth century, it found a new use as the Library.

The interior of the Library abuts the former external walls of the church, and its original features can still be seen.  As well as the windows, there are buttresses on the west and north walls, and you can still see the dismembered feet of the beasts/gargoyles that used to function as drains:-

 

As well as the cathedral's books and silverware, there are some unexpected treasures.  There's the Ripon Jewel (of Saxon date) on the left, and - of all bizarre things - a late Bronze Age gold ornament (right):-

Comments

[annietopia.livejournal.com]

Have I ever told you that I just love your job? I am sure it is not all interesting and stuff...as most jobs are never amazing 100% of the time...but I just love seeing the places you get to investigate. Walk around. Snap pictures of. To see them first hand would be a dream job for me.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Er, that's not the job. That's the holiday.

I'm just such a sad person - I can't stop being curious about the past! Every time I travel, my life's organised like an extended fieldtrip!!!

[annietopia.livejournal.com]

LOL

Okay. In my defense, I have been gone for two weeks. LOL!

So...um...ignore me for being an idiot and know that I love the pictures?

See. This is why I should not be allowed to read posts without a cheat sheet.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

They do sometimes pay me to go out and take pictures. But the monuments, sadly, are hardly ever as well-preserved and swanky as this one.

I'm glad you love the pictures - I'm pining for a better camera with sharper definition. This one doesn't really like photographing details!

[roaming.livejournal.com]

Loving these tours. Thanks for doing them!