I hadn’t had time to make plans prior to arriving in Gloucester. I had little more than an intention to visit the archives and Elmore, a neighbouring village which was steeped in ancestors and relatives. Many relatives had also lived in Gloucester but mostly I was unaware of the locations beyond an occasional street name. I did look for one particular pub to find that part of the street replaced by an enormous parking lot. To keep it simple I spent the first day at Gloucester Cathedral and generally becoming acquainted with the central parts of the city.

Small section of cathedral illustrating door size and building height

Main entrance with carved figures above entrance

Vaulted ceiling

Ceilings

There were many and varied tombs and memorials to important people. The one above is from the early 1600s. Sometimes there would be a description of family and or the positive qualities of the dead person.

Also from the early 1600s and the small figures below signify children of the couple above

This one is more recent relating to a death at sea in 1754

The inscription below the sculpture

This is another one from the 1600s. Seems that they were the ones which most appealed

The inscription

Monument to King Edward 11 who is buried beneath.

Information sheet about the monument to Edward 11

Vestment cases

Some of the richly carved choir stalls with their embroidered cushions

An archaeological dig within the church

A very mustachioed face on one of the columns in the crypt

One of the many faces high on the walls of the cathedral

Known as a fan vaulted ceiling and 650 years old. Its part of the cloisters which were used in a Harry Potter movie

The cathedral from an internal square. The cloisters are the lowest sections of building on both sides of the lawn