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.