The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity

The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is a cathedral and associated cloisters with construction beginning in the 11th century, specifically 1096, following the relocation of the see from Thetford. It was initiated by Herbert de Losinga, and built using Lincolnshire Limestone, Barnack Stone (from Cambridgeshire), and Caen Stone, with lead-covered roofs. The cathedral’s layout includes a nave with aisles, a choir, a north transept with a chapel, a south transept with a vestry, a presbytery with aisles and an ambulatory, and various chapels to the south, north-east and south-east. Cloisters are located to the south.

The architectural style is a mix of periods. The west front was remodelled around 1830 by Salvin. Norman (Romanesque) aisle portals are visible, along with a west door arch incorporating diagonally-set niches and a shallow vault. A large nine-light perpendicular window sits above the door. South aisle windows are 14th century, featuring cusped intersecting tracery. The clerestory windows are Norman, tripartite in design, with a taller central window and blind arcading. The transepts have corner turrets, and feature shafted windows and blind arcading in seven orders. A doorway within the north transept has two orders of shafts, and showcases a relief sculpture depicting a Bishop with a crozier above the doorway. The south transept was restored and largely rebuilt by Salvin around 1830. The presbytery features square-headed four-light windows to the aisles and large 14th-century clerestory windows with flying buttresses between. The crossing tower showcases four orders of arcading, shafted clasping buttresses with turrets, and 15th-century spirelets, with a crocketed spire containing lucarnes.

The cloisters, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries with later additions from 1297 to 1430, were constructed by William and John Ramsey, stonemasons of the south range. These are built from Barnack Stone with lead roofs. The cloisters are arranged in an eleven-bay by eleven-bay layout, spanning two stories. Each bay features three-light open tracery openings below and a single foiled lancet window above. Projecting buttresses define the corners. Lierne vaults cover all sides. Enriched door surrounds are found in the first and eighth bay of the nave. A fine triple entrance leads to the Chapter House, while the Lavatorium is located in the west range. Circular windows, dating to circa 1050-1070, are situated on the upper part of the west wall. Vaulted undercrofts exist behind the south range, used as a song-school.