after the amble around the roman mosaic and roman walls, we went off to the cathedral
it was a lovely walk besides these trees which were just starting to put on their autumn colours.
Baba has this patient face when he is with Ma. Now holding her bag
the cathedral is seriously a mongrel, so many different styles and shapes and colours and architectural styles.
the history of the cathedral makes you feel pity for it. Seriously. Go read it up yourself here.
We head inside
And the long nave
there are some architectural details which are lovely…
this is how it looked in its heyday way back in 1539AD
whoa, what do we have here?
a hanging lamp of some sort
the upper windows are really beautiful, marching in beautifully arranged soaring lines.
a long collage tapestry shows the history of the church, very nicely done. Completely ruined by these ghastly chairs in front.
Some of these murals date back to the original church made in the 12th century. beautiful.
Ma taking some photos
Surprisingly, the stained glass windows aren't as magnificent as I would have expected.
The usual military honours hang in one corner of the church.
With memorial plaques to long dead soldiers and officers, who died in various long forgotten conflicts around the world and the two great wars. So I ask you, today I was standing in front of these plaques and wondering, what was the reason these brave soldiers gave their lives? I know everybody has to die but die screaming holding your guts in a muddy battlefield? for what? to have a plaque on the wall and people pass by uncaring? surely there can be better ways to live and die?
This was the most bizarre thing which I have seen. Some figures were put up on the niches which were blue and strangely two dimensional. In this ancient building made out of golden stone, these were such a jarring sight. Whosoever agreed to put these up should be shot. Bah, looks like a modern art gallery, bleah.
i cross over to the other side
the floor is paved with gravestones
there’s the middle altar. I tell you, those blue figures are weird
looking back at the entrance door.
i keep on walking up the right hand side aisle.
pass through a lovely wooden doorway
the walls are lined with plaques.
And this empty tomb of the Hermits Roger of Markyate and Sigar of Northhaw. Dating back to 1275. holy moly, the chap was a small un
I wonder what happened to the body? only this rather sad looking tomb survives. I sneaked in a touch. I have to admit that it did speak to me. Strange feelings, a small man, intense, with burning eyes, quick nervous movements when awake but capable of great stillness, not so good with people but very much in touch with the divine. huh!, strange..
tiny niches with a lovely flower arrangement. A plaque was fitted on top one time but its gone now. The whitewashed walls are peeling off a wee bit, very rustic but does this belong to a cathedral? a rather brave attempt to perk up this sad corner
a staircase goes up the gallery above and on top are these extraordinarily lovely tall windows. most beautiful
the balcony had some latin script on the pediment..
With a lovely bank of windows
now that’s sweet
interesting way to fill in an arch, a double arch at that.
the other side of the transept
and then this giant round window, nice work
the lectern shaped liked a hawk
The woodwork is extraordinary, beautiful.
the roof has these lovely panels which are painted, but only part of it, that’s why i said that this cathedral is a bit of a mongrel.
lovely work
the funny part of this cathedral is how you come across beautiful details in the middle of a right royal mishmash. Look at this arch, how lovely, no?
A copy of the wallingford clock
This is a copy of the St. Albans Psalter, created in the 12th century. what an exquisite piece. This particular book is a copy, the original is in Germany, which was smuggled out after Henry went after the monasteries. Barbarian 
this is a Mensa, a stone table which was the base of the shrine of St. Albans, is used as the altar for the Chapel of Persecuted.
The pulpit. How wonderful.
Moving into another part of the cathedral, moorish influence
a lovely piece of wall painting.
Some parts of the stonework is really fine.
The grave of one of the original abbots dating back to the 12th century.
This is the shrine of St. Amphibalus, dating back to 1350AD. Whoa. But nothing talked to me.
Passing through some lovely wooden carvings.
the roof is again lovely, very well painted in this section
And here’s the man himself, St. Albans
lovely arches
its a small chapel in the middle, surrounded with these rather sad and dusty looking wooden structures.
You can go up to the upper stories via these heavily worn wooden stairs.
The stone carvings on top of the tomb are ancient, very very old indeed.
On the wall behind, you can see the Madonna and Jesus, as well as John the Baptist on the right. Rather pedestrian carvings I would have thought
I move out of the chapel.
A last look up the chapel
Another tomb..
The walls of the right hand side aisle are covered with plaques. This one dates back to 1619
Hmmm, quite an interesting structure with an isolated figure in the middle.
A poor chest. Quite an old one
Then my eyes fell on the floor tiles, how wonderful, really lovely looking.
This is the back of the wall to the St. Albans Chapel.
This wall is a living breathing wall of sculpture. I could have spent hours just gazing on this.
very nice.
A gravestone has been embedded by removing some of the tiles and then embedding some bronze work into the stone, very nice.
The full altar in its glory. Very very exquisite
A painting is hung which shows how the altar looked many moons back..fascinating differences eh? it didnt have all the statues which we can see now.
Some more details.
Looking down the central aisle
these arches are really lovely
Arches..
the eastern orthodox Byzantine imagery is quite interesting.
A lovely door leading outside.
A stained glass showering its blessings on a memorial plaque
I couldn't quite get the point of these vegetables and flowers.
Some ancient graffiti
Rows of chairs
the windows reminds me of old Greek churches
I am heading back to the entrance, last look up the central aisle
More stacked up chairs
At the entrance, you have these strange arrangements, lol, very strange.
We head out and then go to the Roman Museum.
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