While David was on his weekend investigations of Gloucester, I visited some of the local sights. First off was Gloucester Cathedral.
Prior to the Cathedral, there was an Abbey from the 7th century on the site. This became a Benedictine Monestary in the early 11th century.
The first church was built here in 1089, and although it has changed and been extended over the years, the crypt is still the original layout.
Henry III was crowned in Gloucester Cathedral in 1216, the only king to be crowned outside of Westminster since the Norman invasion.
Edward III creates a tomb for his father, Edward II, here, and miracles started to happen when people visited. This brought donations in and allowed the Norman Abbey Church to be built. Robert of Normandy, first son of William the Conqueror, is also buried in the cathedral.
When the East window was installed in 1350, it was the largest stained glass window in the world. The central tower was built around 1450. During World War II, the window was dismantled and kept in the crpyt, it reportedly took 14 months to put it back.
The Abbey was dissolved in 1540, but the church was turned into a Cathedral in 1541 when Henry VIII created the Diocese of Gloucester.
The organ was originally constructed in 1666 by Thomas Harris and has the only complete 17th-century cathedral organ case surviving in the country.
A major restoration was carried out in 1847.
The Cathedral has been used for filming in the Harry Potter films, Dr Who, and Sherlock.
There is a statue of the judge who presided over one of the last witch trials, who dismissed the case as there was no law against flying!
The Cathedral is said to be haunted by a victim of the plague, a cleric, and also by an Imp who reportedly caused until it was turned to stone.
Project Paranormal 