|
Home > |
Bristol |
|
|||||
The misericords and history of Bristol Cathedral,
The Holy and Undivided Trinity.
Bristol Cathedral has 28, 16th century misericords.
Please launch the complete misericord description page here
Nick Jones has kindly let me have a design based on some of the misericords at Bristol Cathedral
An Abbey dedicated to St Augustine was founded on the site of the current Bristol Cathedral in 1140 AD. The original abbey church was built between 1140 and 1148, in the Romanesque (Norman) style, very little of which remains today. Further building work was done in the period 1148 to 1164, of which the fine Chapter House, the Abbey Gatehouse and the abbot’s gateway remain to today. In about 1220, what is now known as the “Elder Lady Chapel” was built and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Major rebuilding work on the eastern end of the abbey church was carried out between 1298 and 1332 in the English Gothic style, the misericords date from this period. Work then stopped for about 100 years before the construction of the transept and the central tower. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 a new nave was being built.
The misericords were added between 1515 and 1526, by Abbot Robert Elyot - it is worth noting that his initials appear on serveral of the misericords.
At this time, the partially constructed nave was demolished, and the 14th and 15th century east end was closed off.
Bristol did not become a cathedral until the diocese of Bristol was formed in 1542, under the aegis of Henry VIII. The eastern end of the Abbey church was opened with secular canons. Between 1868 and 1887 a new gothic nave was finally added, and the west front was completed in 1888.
The misericords were added between 1515 and 1526, by Abbot Robert Elyot - it is worth noting that his initials appear on serveral of the misericords.
At this time, the partially constructed nave was demolished, and the 14th and 15th century east end was closed off.
Bristol did not become a cathedral until the diocese of Bristol was formed in 1542, under the aegis of Henry VIII. The eastern end of the Abbey church was opened with secular canons. Between 1868 and 1887 a new gothic nave was finally added, and the west front was completed in 1888.
© 2009 All Rights Reserved Last Updated 09 April 2010
RSS feed for Automated updates of the regular upgrades to misericords.co.uk