Monastic Buildings

The Cathedral Cloisters

As has been mentioned previously, the north transept is considerably smaller than the south, due to the well preserved monastic buildings. If you have ever walked around Fountains Abbey and imagined what it would have looked like in it's original state, then these will give you a good insight. As you walk around the cloisters, take time to notice the stained glass windows which are set in the same order that they are found in the 1928 Prayer Book. These date from between 1921 and 1927 and were by Frederick Eden and Archibald Nicholson. Building was begun in the 12th century around the cloisters, the first phase being the 2 doorways into the cathedral from the south cloisters, the blind arches along the wall and what was the monk's cellar, the cathedral workshop and now the impressive visitor centre.

The cloisters were laid out in the 12th century and work from this period can still be seen, however they were extensively rebuilt between the years 1525 and 1537 and restored by Giles Scott from 1911-1913. The chapter house, it's vestibule and their parlour date from around the 13th century. The chapter house was where the monks gathered daily to conduct their spiritual business and was the burial place for the abbots. It's use today is for monthly meetings of the Dean and Chapter when dealing with cathedral business. The vestibule leads from the east cloister to the chapter house was where people of the town waited when they wished to see the Abbot when they met in the chapter house. Nowadays the cathedral clergy and the choir assemble before the service. The parlour which became the Song School in 1967 was a hospitable and warm area for the monks to meet their guests. It is currently one of the two places where the Cathedral Choir practises. Adjacent to the Song School door are the steps that led up to the monks dormitory. There was another door that led into the north transept, which the monks would use when they came down for evening office. Although the dormitory fell into disuse many years ago and was removed during a period of restoration there are plans to restore it to the original proportions and will be used to replace the Song School as a place for the Cathedral Choirs to rehearse. This is only one of many ambitious plans the Dean and Chapter have to bring the Cathedral into the new Millennium.

By far the more important of the buildings of this era is the Refectory. Once again built in the 13th century, the windows date a further 200 years later, and was the place where the monks gathered to eat and listen to reading by one of their colleagues from the stone pulpit set high in the walls. Today it has been transformed back into a place where visitors can eat and also hosts meetings, concerts and exhibitions. The tapestry on the west wall depicts confrontation between St Paul and the sorcerer Elymas, before the Roman governor who sits in judgement behind. The scene is from the Acts of the Apostles 13.11 and was by the artist Raphael, made in Mortlake Works, near London in the 17th century.

The garden or Garth was laid out in the 1920's and is a quiet and restful area where visitors may sit and admire the pool , the colour of the stone buildings and the recently  installed sculpture, Water of Life by Stephen Broadbent given in 1994 by NWS Bank plc.