Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Cathedral starts conservation of famous Cloister
WORK has started to repair Gloucester Cathedral’s world-famous Great Cloister after a £550,000 donation from an heir to the Tetra Pak fortune.
An architectural survey three years ago found the corridors, which appeared in the Harry Potter films, are at risk.
Originally built for use by monks for study and writing, the Great Cloister was built 600 years ago and has long been considered a jewel in the cathedral’s crown.
But remedial work done 150 years ago is now affecting the lifetime of the Cloister.
Victorian cement used as mortar in repairs between blocks of stone is preventing the ancient stones from ‘breathing’, causing them to blister and decay and unless the old cement is replaced with a lime-based mortar the Cloister will be lost forever.
Thanks to the donation from the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, work can now go ahead to save the beautiful corner of the cathedral.
Hans Rausing is the Swedish grandson of Ruben Rausing who founded the Tetra Pak milk carton empire, while Julia is his Britishborn second wife.
The Rausings said: “No one who walks through the Cloister at Gloucester Cathedral can fail to be struck by its overwhelming beauty. The intricate design of the stonemasonry, particularly the fan vaulted ceiling, is remarkable and its visual impact touches the many thousands of visitors to the cathedral each year.
“We are delighted to help ensure that this magnificent feat of medieval architecture is preserved so that visitors and worshippers can continue to enjoy it for hundreds of years to come.”
Construction began on the 14thcentury part of the cathedral just after the Black Death in 1347 but because of the plague it wasn’t completed until 1412.
As well as the Harry Potter films, the Cloister has appeared in blockbusters such as Mary Queen of Scots (featuring Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan) and hit TV shows such as Sherlock, Wolf Hall and Doctor Who.
The work carried out will be visible to everyone who visits the cathedral, but the project aims to let visitors see first-hand and learn about the people and the techniques used to protect this important heritage building.
A spokesman from Gloucester Cathedral said: “There will be opportunities for the public to engage with the stonemasons through carving workshops, demonstrations and a range of other activities.
“The project will also be used to develop the cathedral’s stonemason training and mentoring programme, with at least 11 new apprentices learning their craft throughout the process.
“It is a once-in-a-millennia opportunity to work on something so architecturally significant, and it will enable craft skills to pass from one generation to the next.”
Canon Dr Andrew Braddock, interim Dean of Gloucester, said: “We are hugely grateful to Julia and Hans Rausing for their incredibly generous support of this project. The Cloister, with its amazing fan vaulted ceiling, is one of Gloucester Cathedral’s most iconic and beautiful spaces.
“Sitting at the heart of the cathedral’s buildings, it is a place of encounter, meeting, reflection and wonder, attracting thousands of visitors every year. This project will ensure the Cloister remains open for everyone and will be at the very heart of the cathedral’s daily rhythm of life for generations to come.”