Romanesque Arcade, Ely Cathedral, England
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 52° 23.921 E 000° 15.758
31U E 313770 N 5808907
This architectural detail from Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire appears on a Christmas stamp issued by Great Britain in 1989.
Waymark Code: WMYMHE
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/29/2018
Views: 6
In the year 673, a monastery was founded on the Isle of Ely by Etheldreda, a Saxon princess. This monastery was destroyed by the Danes in 870 but re-established as a Benedictine Community about a hundred years later. Work began on the present building during the latter half of the 11th century and continued through the end of the 14th century.
It took so long to build Ely Cathedral that what started out as Romanesque architecture often ended up as Gothic. According to the cathedral’s brochure, one of the best areas to see this transition is inside the south-west transept. Here you’ll find a series of tiered arcades with the lowest having semi-circular Romanesque arches and highest adorned with pointed arches indicating a Gothic style. And what’s in between? That would be the one pictured on the stamp. Though still Romanesque (semi-circular arches) they are much more ornate being fancifully intertwined.
The year 1989 marked the 800th anniversary of the completion of Ely Cathedral in 1189 (at least the Norman building - the building that stands today was the result of several more centuries of additions and renovations.) In celebration of this anniversary, Great Britain featured Ely Cathedral on its 1989 Christmas stamps. A 1p surcharge was added to the postal value of most of these stamps to support UK Charities.
Stamp Issuing Country: Great Britain
Date of Issue: 14-Nov-1989
Denomination: 34p + 1p
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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