This page describes the different parts of a cathedral. All cathedrals are different but generally
follow a common design plan. Below is a plan of a cathedral showing the layout of
the main church and cloisters. The numbers highlight areas of interest in the layout
and more information about each area is provided below.
| The Chapter-house 1 is where the Dean
and Chapter met to discuss the running of the cathedral. The Chapter-house is usually built on the east side
of the cloisters 2 and consists of a large single room commonly octagonal (8 sides) in shape.
Some chapter-houses are different and the example at Hereford has 10 sides while the one at Abbey Dore had twelve sides.
The roof of the chapter-house is commonly supported by a single central column and the ceiling is often
elaborately vaulted and decorated.
|
The cloisters 2 are rectangular covered walkways around a central garden
or garth. They were used by the occupants for exercise, study and movement under cover
between the different parts of the cathedral. The construction of the ceilings of many
cloisters can be very complex. The cloisters at Gloucester are a good example of complex
architecture and have fine fan vaulting. Cloisters are usually sited on the south side
of the nave 4 where it is naturally sunnier and warmer, but some cathedrals have cloisters to the north
due possibly to building constraints. The Chapter-house usually leads off the eastern side of the cloisters.
| The West Front of a Cathedral 3 is often highly
decorated with carvings of saints and other historical figures. In medieval times the stonework of
west front would have been painted with bright colours. In the centre of the west front is the large
west doorway, the main entrance to the cathedral. |
| Entering through the west doorway you come into the nave of the cathedral
4. The nave occupies the area of the cathedral up to the crossing
8. The word nave comes from the latin word navis for ship because
this is what the structure of the building looked like. To the north and south of the nave are the
aisles 5 and 6. The nave columns shown as
black circles on the diagram above separate the aisles from the nave. The
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| At the centre of the cathedral is the crossing 8.
The crossing is directly below the central tower of the cathedral and at the corners of the
crossing are usually four huge columns that support the weight of the tower. To the north and
south of the crossing are the transepts 7 and
9. The transepts give the cathedral its cross-like shape. The transepts
add extra strength to the building needed to support the weight of the tower and provide space for
additional altars. Transepts vary in the distance that they extend from the crossing and at some cathedrals
extra transepts are built further to the east of the church (shown above 11).
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|
Key
| 1 | Chapter-house |
| 2 | Cloisters and Garth |
| 3 | West Front |
| 4 | Nave |
| 5 | North Aisle |
| 6 | South Aisle |
| 7 | North Transept |
| 8 | The Crossing |
| 9 | South Transept |
| 10 | Choir |
| 11 | Eastern Transepts |
| 12 | Presbytery |
| 13 | Retro-Choir |
| 14 | Lady-Chapel |
| 15 | North Porch |
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