Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Saturday 10 January 2015

A Medieval Chocolate Box

Excuse me while I just give a satisfying sigh.  Yes, week one has been completed and we are now back into our routines.  Christmas?  What Christmas?  It's surprising how quickly you get back into the day to day running of a family and work again.  As soon as I drove onto the precincts at work, 2015 had begun, the routine of getting my two teens up for school and college was a distant memory and my work time was waiting for me.  BUT, of course, it would be rude if I didn't take you on a walk wouldn't it? So during one lunch time I took my old faithful camera out with me and took advantage of the brief blue sky (it's been so stormy!).  Just a short walk to get me used to it again, but sharing the medieval chocolate box that I have done in the past.

I do love lamp posts and Peterborough Cathedral's grounds are full of them.  They always remind me of my childhood whilst reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  They have had a bit of a clean and this one set against the 'new building' (built in 1496) in the distance was just lovely to see (no Mr Tumnus though!).


The 'new building' is about 500 years old compared to the main Cathedral that it is built onto which is almost 900 years old.  I see it as the visually softer part of this magnificent building with its easy to follow lines of architecture and can be found at the east end of the Cathedral.


As I continued my walk round to the south transept you can see the older part with its Gothic towers (remember my climb up these last year?).  Those gorgeous little turrets that I walked around and drooled at the slates on the individual small roofs. (My past post is here if you want to see them up close).


Along the old cobbled lanes is one of my favourite places and one of the oldest in the precincts, the Monk's Dormitory would have been along here.  My mind always wanders along here imagining the calm and reflection that would have taken place.


Me and my stone walls - call me obsessive but I just love them!


Sometimes I look back and think of fairy tales, Rapunzel would be best suited in one of those turrets wouldn't she?  And Sleeping Beauty waiting for the Prince to break through the barrier of thorns.


Of course, the precincts are also filled with a plethora of buildings in all shapes, sizes and ages.  To think that just walking through an archway from Cathedral Square you are transported into another time is breathtaking... and free!


Not forgetting the ancient gravestones, which are now neatly lined up.  These particular ones are from the 1700's and were beautifully lit by the low (and short lived) sunshine.  


The ground has greenery but no little gems of real life yet (I know, it's only January!).  Again, the sun was behaving and giving those little leaves something to smile about.


But as I continued to walk round to the North Transept, there against a wall were these beautiful smiles of sunshine.  I think it is a winter flowering broom. (thanks to Sue and Janneke, it is in fact a Jasminum Nudiflorum).


The sun had decided that it was time to disappear again so the rich colours of the stained glass windows of the Cathedral were beginning to fade, just giving the last glimpse of deep blues and reds.


The sun dial's natural battery had run out but I knew it was time to start heading back to my office.


But let's just see the main entrance that most people take photos from a distance, the West Door.  The entrance has recently been worked on, in fact the pathways are still being replaced outside the other buildings.  This gives easier access and uniformity to the entrance.


Looking up, you can see the intricate design and the vaulted ceilings for this exquisite building.


And of course the frontage itself from the Norman arch.


Every piece of this place is just a feast for the eyes.  I always come across something that I haven't seen before, or expect to see.  The roots of time have made marks on the building and surrounding area over the centuries, including plant roots in the medieval walls!


The sun disappeared into the shadows and the tree silhouettes made me smile.  A couple more months of deep sleep await and then another year of beauty will begin.


Back to work I went, but I couldn't leave you without another lamp post now could I??


I would also like to say welcome to some lovely new followers.  I'm looking forward to catching up with your posts.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Take care.


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57 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos! What a spectacular place you live in.

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  2. Hello Chel, what a lovely tour of the cathedral.. It is a gorgeous building, so many beautiful details.. I love the lamp posts too. Lovely series of images, enjoy your weekend!

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  3. Beautiful photos of a beautiful place, I do like a good wonder around looking at architecture. I will show you around our Cathedral soon, not so grand but it's the details I love, may even photo a lamp post for you :)

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  4. The yellow flower looks like winter jasmine - we have some flowering in our garden,

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  5. You have taken some wonderful photos here Chel, thank you for sharing.
    Jacquie x

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  6. Wonderful photos, all of them! And yet I can pick my favourite: it's the last one with the lamp post!

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  7. Wonderful photos! What a great way to spend a lunch hour. I wish I had such gorgeous buildings near my workplace.

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  8. Hi! Love your blog. It's a long time since I visited Peterborough - I shall have to remedy that xx

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  9. Thank you so much for taking us on this lovely walk .
    Enjoyed it very much.

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  10. Beautiful shots of the beautiful church. I do love those turrets! I really like lamp posts too, especially the old style ones like you have photographed here. Gorgeous last shot of the lighted lamp against the pink and blue sky and tree silhouette!

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  11. Wow! It is so beautiful and you took some great pictures of all the angles and turrets and windows and doors. I enjoyed seeing the cathedral from all angles. Beautiful photos Chel! Enjoy the weekend.

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  12. Thank you for a lovely walk, I really enjoyed it.

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  13. I would get on a plane soon if you could be my tour guide. It is so beautiful. Someday we will come visit.

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  14. Great pictures of the Peterborough Cathedral and surroundings. I easily understand that you love to have a walk along the stone walls during lunchtime, there is so much beauty to be seen. And do you know, the yellow flowers against the wall are not of broom but the Jasminum nudiflorum, they are always flowering in January.
    Have a nice weekend, here we have rain and stormy weather.

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  15. What gorgeous buildings!! Your photos are just beautiful. I can't imagine living somewhere that you could walk daily and take that kind of pictures. Thanks for sharing,

    Judy

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  16. Wow. I really enjoy church architecture. I don't remember if I've told you before but I once took a course in that subject in college and it was fascinating. This is a beautiful cathedral and the details are amazing. Thanks for sharing as always.

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  17. Such a beautiful walk. I'd be refreshed, I'm sure, if I could do that once a week! Thanks for sharing this particular chocolate box view!

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  18. …thank you for this amazing walk!!!!
    xxxxx Ale

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  19. Ooooo's and ahhh's...so fairytale like...and Harry Potterish. Thank you for the smiles..beautiful.

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  20. I'm sure that if had stayed a bit longer, Mr. Tumnus would have shown up. Thank you for the tour of the beautiful buildings and stone walls, two things that made such an impression upon me when I visited your faire land.

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  21. Fabulous photos, Chel. :o)

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  22. Wonderful photos. So lovely to Peterborough Cathedral again - thank you:)

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  23. I gave a big sigh at the end of this post. Such lovely eye candy. Medieval cathedrals are so wonderful. Thanks for taking us along on your walk.

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  24. Great photos as always. Must get up that way again some time.

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  25. Beautiful buildings and walls...I so want to go to England to experience this in real life!

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  26. Such fascinating architecture. Maybe some day my husband and I will have the privilege of a visit to your lovely country and beyond. For now it's fun to view the photos as if we where there. Hope your work day was a happy one. Have a blessed day. ~:)

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  27. WOW stunning, beautiful photos Chel, the broom is such a welcome visitor at this time of year. You are so lucky to have all that splendour on your doorstep. I was born in Peterborough and when I was in the Girl Guides we used to go to the cathedral to clean the brasses :-)

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  28. Fantastic photos . Thanks for taking us along I really enjoyed the walk ! Have a good day !

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  29. The scenery on my walks is not nearly as fascinating as yours! I am always in awe of the beauitful architecture you share. The last photo of the golden lamp light against the trees and pink and blue sky is breathtaking though! Have a beautiful weekend my friend!

    Hugs, Vicky

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  30. I LOVE to photograph old cemeteries! Never have I been able to photograph one that old though. Beautiful photos.
    Brenda

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  31. History buildings nice views. i love your pictures! i noticed you love photography as i do...nice we can share...blessings soraya

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  32. Hi Chel, sounds like you had a good 1st week of the new year. Thanks for a little walk around the grounds of the cathedral. It's so beautiful the architecture and the grounds. You must love taking those nice walks. It has been so bitterly cold here across the pond and it snowed 2 times already here ( no huge storms though)! Wishing you a wondeful Sunday and week.
    Hugs, Julie

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  33. A wonderful walk Chel, thanks for taking us with you. It is such a beautiful cahedral.

    Diana

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  34. A lovely stroll about, and that cobblestone lane...to die for. Thanks as always for sharing.

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  35. Hello Chel,
    Very good shots of that amazing cathedral. So wonderful.
    You've photographed this very well!!

    Kind regards,
    Marco

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  36. Beautiful!!! You know that I love and appreciate working in a old building and it is so lovely to be able to take these walks yourself and with you! I love the lamppost pictures especially as you say, just like the lion witch and wardrobe one! I hope that you can find time to enjoy may more lovely walks and wanders around the precincts for yourself and to share. xx

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  37. Such beauty on your lunch break.The environment I work in is not nearly as pretty - unless of course you count the cute little faces of 30 kindergarten kids!!

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  38. Beautiful collection of photos!

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  39. Magnificent Cathedral with it's unique West front. I must pay it another visit as I only had a couple of hours late in the afternoon to wander around.
    I love lamps too and that last photo is outstanding, the right exposure set against that magnificent sky and tree. One of my things is a winter tree against an early morning, early evening sky, sadly I don't get the chance to photograph it often as I normally appreciate it on my drive to work at this time of year.

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  40. Lovely pics, Chel. And I'm with you on the stone walls. What a blessing to be able to work among these awesome buildings (and I use the word "awesome" carefully and properly!). Thank you x

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  41. The 'new building' constructed in 1496!!! Most Americans choke when they see things as old as that still standing - and of course the other parts of the cathedral are even older! I know it's your place of work there Chel, but how wonderful that you can take a little break to wander through such beautiful surroundings. It truly is a magnificent cathedral, both the buildings and the grounds.

    BTW - I mentioned you and linked to your blog on my post today - just want to be sure all my blog friends 'join you' on your lovely walks!

    Happy week ahead dear - hugs, Mary

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  42. Great photos, I love looking in Churches and cathedrals, and your lamp picture is really great!!

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  43. Great shots, Chel - wonderful imagination too. I need to get to Peterborough sometime. And I love 'Narnia' lamps - takes me back to when I first heard the stories as a child!

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  44. I love going on your walks, Chel! I love those old buildings and the lamp posts made me smile. They are just so charming. Isn't it crazy how Christmas already feels like it was weeks ago? I hope you have a wonderful week!
    Hugs,
    Cecilia

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  45. I had to show my boys the lamppost. We are big time Narnia fans. :-)
    Thank you for taking us on a walk with you...it was wonderful!!
    Carla

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  46. What fabulous shots! Like a fairy tale!

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  47. I can't believe there's someone else, as well as me, who loves lampposts because of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!! My husband is determined to get us a really nice lamppost for the garden.

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  48. What a beautiful church. Thank you for sharing it with us. Hard to imagine parts of that building are from medieval times! So Cool! Thanks for joining HSH!

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  49. What a beautiful church. Thank you for sharing it with us. Hard to imagine parts of that building are from medieval times! So Cool! Thanks for joining HSH!

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  50. The buildings are so majestic! I wonder what it would have been like to live back then... BTW I'm starting a story blog and wanted to invite you. now using the pseudonym Marnie (formerly Mrs R)

    http://wrapping-lavender-with-blue-string.blogspot.com

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  51. It's always a treat to walk around with you, Chel! I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a place that is surrounded by such wonderful history!

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  52. Happy 2015 to you Chel,
    I hear you about Christmas! What Christmas? :) Right about now I'd love to walk around in your beautiful country so much history! Right now were in snow and -40 I can't wait to get out for a hike!
    Hugs
    Rosemary

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  53. Hi Chel! Found your beautiful blog through Stephanie s kinky party! I have had a lovely time strolling through your posts and enjoying the sights. Would love to follow and will be back again!
    Best wishes
    Christine

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  54. Lovely lampposts! And a beautiful red/blue striped sky too x

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  55. I enjoyed going along with You on the walking tour. It is magnificent- A living history.Thank You. I'm looking forward to getting to know You better as I'm one of Your newer followers.Denise

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  56. I enjoyed the tour! What a beautiful place, you can really feel the history and the many stories that have been lived here.
    Amalia
    xo

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  57. Beautiful photographs, I want to go there.

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