Norwich Cathedral

Cathedral in Norwich, Norfolk, England, dating from the 11th century. The original church was begun in 1096 as part of a Benedictine house by Herbert de Losinga, first bishop of Norwich. The spire, rebuilt in the late 15th century, is 95 m/312 ft high. The monastery was suppressed in 1538 and most of the buildings have disappeared.

Much damage was caused to the cathedral at various times by storms and fires, and later rebuilding was carried out in the Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular styles. However, Norwich is unusual among cathedrals in retaining its Norman chancel, transepts, crossing and tower, in addition to its nave.

Features Stone vaulting, with hundreds of richly carved bosses, erected between 1450 and 1536, replaces the flat, wooden ceilings in the principal parts of the building. The chancel has a clerestory dating from 1360 to 1370. The carved wooden stalls in the choir date from 1416 to 1425. At the east end is a Lady Chapel (1930–32), designed by Charles Nicholson and built on the site of two earlier chapels as a war memorial. The bishop's ancient throne, parts of which date from the 8th century, standing east of the high altar and facing west, is the only seat of its kind in northern Europe which follows the plan universal in Christian cathedrals until about 1000, and has been continuously in use. The rebuilding of the Norman cloisters lasted from 1297 to around 1430.