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Rochester Cathedral church
An original Saxon cathedral was built in 604 A.D., the land being donated by King Ethelbert.
The present building dates back to the work of the French monk Gundulf in 1080. The 8 bay nave and parts the crypt are Norman. The Cathedral is built in rag stone with limestone ashlar dressings with slate and lead roofs.
It was consecrated on Ascension Day 1130 A.D. however it was partially destroyed around 1137 and work began on rebuilding in 1180.
The remains of a 12th C. chapter house exist on the south side of the Nave with some fine carvings and a Tympanum depicting Abraham and Isaac.
The Cathedral was a major place of pilgrimage in the 13th century when William of Perth was murdered nearby and several miracles were associated with him. His shrine was established in the Cathedral, and visiting pilgrims helped to fund the rebuilding of the Cathedral.
The north and south transepts were built in the mid-13th century, and in the 14th century, Hamo de Hythe raised the central tower and spire and vaulted the transepts.
The cathedral has a central crossing tower, north and south transepts, and aisled choir, eastern transepts and aisleless presbytery. There is also a early 16th century Lady Chapel to the south.
The west front has a carving in the central portal (a tympanum) and dates from the mid-12th century.
The presbytery has no aisles and is 2 storeys high which is unique in an English cathedral. The choir is unusual in having solid walls dividing it from the aisles.
The font and most of the windows are from the 19th century.
The Cathedral was restored in 1872 by George Gilbert Scott and the current tower and spire were built in 1904.
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