St David’s Cathedral, founded on the remains of the original monastery that St David built in the 6th century, dates from 1181, when the nave and ailes on either side were built. In the image above they can be seen to the left of the tower. The whole medieval city of St Davids was surrounded by a 5 metre high wall and protected by four gates. Only one of them remains now and that is the one seen in the image below here. The church bells were moved from the cathedral tower (after Cromwell’s plundering of the cathedral, which made the tower and the whole building unsafe) to the octagonal tower at the only surviving gate of the medieval wall.
Porth-y-Twr, or the Tower Gate, the only surviving gate of the medieval wall protecting the town of St Davids, and now housing the cathedral bells
Next to the Cathedral is the Bishop’s Palace, now just a beautiful ruin but once hosting the Bishop and celebrity guests arriving into St Davids. The little river of Alun cuts through the valley between the Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace. You can see the river in several of my images below here.
The Bishop’s Palace with the walls protecting the river Alun from flooding seen just in front of the palace
The river Alun with its protecting walls separates the Bishop’s Palace (on the left side of the river) from the Cathedral (to the right). A little dam was built in the river
The west entrance to the Cathedral seen from down the tiny river. Next to the cathedral itself to the left (built in lighter coloured stone) are the cloisters and refectory
Entering the cathedral you are met with a challenging clash or beautiful merger (depending on how you see it) of building styles. The cathedral was built upon the grounds of the 6th century monastery founded by St David, the patron saint of Wales. The construction commenced in 1181, when the architects were slowly moving away from the Normal to the Gothic style, represented by the presence of both round and pointed arches.
The nave is 12th century whereas the quire, high altar and the Lady Chapel are 13th C and the Screen (separating the nave from the quire) is 14th C. The beautiful oak roof is from the 16th C.
The nave. Notice the beautiful oak roof and the rood hanging from the roof. See also picture below
Another image of the nave with the oak roof. Notice the Roman and Gothic arches typical for the period of construction (late 12th C)
A telephoto capture of the rood (crucifix) hanging from the ceiling in the nave. Jesus is flanked by the Virgin Mary and (I presume it must be) St John. It is a modern design by W.D. Caroe in 1931The Screen, built by Bishop Gower in the 14th C and harbouring his tomb
The Quire looking back into the nave and with the organ above the Screen. Above you can see the vast opening into the tower of the Cathedral.
Lying on the floor looking up and with the help of a tripod I captured this image looking straight up into the tower with its beautiful decorations. You see all the way up, as the church bells are placed in a separate building nearby, see earlier photo. The organ is to the right
The Cathedra or Bishop’s Throne stands 9 metres high on the south side of the Quire
The High Altar in the Presbytery. The lower windows are not really that at all as two chapels are beyond those openings. Notice the magnificent ceiling again.
At the east end of the Cathedral is the Lady Chapel. The carving of the Virgin and Child is from Germany in 14th C style.
