Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in the British town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire, six miles away from Newark. It is considered a unique example of largely Early English Norman architecture in the vein of Durham Cathedral with the spires being of particular note, thanks to the distinctive pepperpot spires which uniquely overlap the footprint of the tower walls.

Related Topics:
Minster - Cathedral - British - Southwell - Nottinghamshire - Newark - Norman - Durham Cathedral

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In this case it was built partly as an attached church of the Palace of the Archbishop of York which stood next door and is now ruined. The function of the church was a mixture of the need to serve for the Archbishop as a place of worship and a collegiate body of thelogical learning, hence being a minster. The minster still draws its choir from the nearby school, with which it is associated.

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The quire was replaced in 1234, the chapter house was built in 1286 complete with fan vaulting in decorated gothic style, and the quire screen in 1350. Interestingly, the church shows Early English styling on most of it with a Perpendicular back

Related Topics:
Quire - 1234 - 1286 - 1350

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The earliest church on the site is believed to have been founded in 627 by Paulinus, a missionary of the Archbishop of York. Construction on Southwell Minster began in 1108, on the site of a previous Saxon church. Many of the stones of this earlier Saxon church were reused in the construction of the Norman one. The tessellated floor and tympanum in the North Transept are the only remaining pieces of the older Saxon one.

Related Topics:
627 - 1108 - Saxon - Transept

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contrasting with the earlier part of the church.

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Southwell is where King Charles the First was captured during the English Civil War. The fighting saw the church seriously damaged and the nave actually used as stabling. The adjoining palace was almost completely destroyed with only the hall of the Archbishop remaining, in the form of a ruined shell.

Related Topics:
King Charles the First - English Civil War

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The 'pepperpot' spires are the only example of their kind in the U.K. In danger of collapse they were removed in 1805 and only re-erected in 1888. In this period the nave roof was also considered unsuitable for the job due to its flatness and was completely rebuilt in the current peaked version.

Related Topics:
1805 - 1888

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In 1888 Southwell Minster finally became a cathedral proper for Nottinghamshire, excluding the City of Nottingham and a chunk of nearby Derbyshire. It included the City of Derby until it was divided in 1927. Its creation as a cathedral has lead to confusion over the civic status of Southwell. Traditionally it was considered to be a city because of the presence of the cathedral, but in more modern times the traditional definition has not accepted by government (see City status in the United Kingdom).

Related Topics:
Derby - 1927 - City status in the United Kingdom

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