SOUTHWELL MINSTER

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DESCRIPTION

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Former minster and collegiate church founded 956 AD. One of only six collegiate churches to escape Dissolution in Henry VIII's reign, but it was dissolved in 1548, only to be re-instated in 1557. Its Collegiate functions were finally ended in 1841 after which, in 1888 it became a cathedral. The present church dates from the 12th century with mainly 13th century and later features. Plan of aisled nave and west towers built in 1120-1250, the choir, its aisles, and the east transept chapels were built between 1233-60, and the north-east octagonal Chapter House was added between 1290-1300. The plan also includes a crossing tower and north porch. The south-west tower, nave and crossing tower were re-roofed following a fire in 1711-4. The western spires were removed by Richard Ingleman in 1801. In 1803 wiliam Wilkins Snr re-roofed the chapter house and the west towers were repaired in 1816. Ewan Christian reinstated the west tower spires and the chapterhouse roof, and renewed the roofs of the nave and transept in 1880. A vallum was dug around the minster in the Anarchy, and was strong enough to permit a spirited defence in 1142.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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A secular college existed from c 956 to 1548 at St Mary's Southwell (SK 70165380). The present church has an outstanding Norman Nave and Crossing, with an Early English Choir. Now known as St Mary's Minster, it assumed cathedral status in 1888. (1-3)

Claims of a tessellated pavement in the Crossing (see plan) being Roman are dismissed by Daniels. The pavement is in poor condition, and is more in sympathy with the church construction than the nearby Roman finds at SK 70285374. (4)

The above noted tessellated pavement is a medieval mosaic. Southwell Minster is an active cathedral. (5)

The Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin. Grade `A'. (6)

Full history of the minster. (7)

Listed with full description. Minster church and attached chapter house. Nave, aisles and west towers c1120-1250, on the site of an Anglo-Saxon church. Choir, aisles and east transept chapels c1233-1260. Chapter house 1290-1300. Grade I. (8)

A vallum was dug around the minster in the Anarchy, and was strong enough to permit a spirited defence in 1142. (9)

Notes on the influence of the master mason of Southwell Minster on the Romanesque churches of Nottinghamshire. (10)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) by David Knowles and R Neville Hadcock 1953 Medieval religious houses : England and Wales

Page(s)439,483

( 2) Journal of the British Archaeological Association

39, 1933 Page(s)73-83

( 3) General reference

Notes on the Cathedrals (Southwell) undated (WH Fairbairns)

( 4) Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire

CM Daniels 70, 1966 Page(s)15

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FDC 16-OCT-74

( 6) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Southwell RD June 1962 Page(s)26

(7) edited by William Page 1910 The Victoria history of the county of Nottingham : volume two

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)152-61

(8) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

District of Newark and Sherwood, 20/05/1992 Page(s)33-6

(9) David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands

Page(s)382

(10) Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire

Coffman P and Thurlby M 104, 2000 Page(s)57-81

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