My personal favourite of all the Buildings that Henry VIII left us. It started well before him of course but he finished it and in some style too. The stained glass windows are simply the most magnificent anywhere in the world, there is a whole guidebook devoted just to them alone! The sunshine through the south side windows played spectacular coloured patterns on the lower north side wall, I could just sit there for hours.
One of the windows has the only authenticated image of Catherine Howard, gazing up to Henry VIII as Solomon, but with ginger hair. Her initials can also be seen high up on the East window above the alter Curiously Anne Boleyn’s initials can be seen above the provosts stall in the choir, quite how they remained when all traces of her were obliterated remains a mystery.
Peterborough Cathedral is the last resting place of Catherine of Aragon. Mary Queen of Scots was buried here too before James I had her re-buried in Westminster Abbey. I Think she has the last laugh on history as not only does she have a grander tomb than Elizabeth but all our royal family is descended though her and not the Tudors.
We stayed for evensong and this time it was a boy’s choir that sang and it was just as beautiful as St Georges Chapel Windsor.
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