On Saturday morning I caught a train from Worcester to Gloucester to take some photos and have a look at the Cathedral and the historic Docks. The Cathedral’s website says that the Cathedral was started in 1089, and it says that in 1216, nine year old Henry the III was crowned king there. King Edward II is buried in Gloucester Cathedral, though it was an abbey then, until Henry VIII ordered the abbey surrendered in 1540 and the monastery dissolved. From January 1541 the newly formed Cathedral became the seat of the Bishop of Gloucester. Bishop Hooper was burned at the stake here in in 1555 under the orders of Catholic Queen Mary. Rather than remodelling or rebuilding, the Cathedral was conserved and maintained only during the 17th, 18th, and 19th Centuries.
John Stafford Smith was a choirboy in the Cathedral as a child, his father being the organist. Smith wrote a tune called “Anacreon” which Francis Scott Key set the Star Spangled Banner to during the siege of Baltimore.
There are many other historical facts about the Cathedral, and interesting people interred there, but in modern times it is known for starring in many scenes as Hogwarts in the “Harry Potter” films. The Cloisters were used in the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the USA) and the Chamber of Secrets. The door to the Gryfindor’s Common Room is also here, as are the columns Harry and Ron hid behind when the troll headed to the girl’s bathroom.
The Halls of Hogwarts
The Hiding Place from the Troll is under the arches on the right.
There are other locations as well, but the rest of the photos to follow are views of the historic Cathedral.
This is the detail of the ceiling of the Cloisters.
I hope that you have enjoyed the views of one of the beautiful cathedrals of England.
Beautiful pictures! What an amazing cathedral. It must be fun to live close enough to see such cool stuff.