Thanks to Mrs Busbridge’s instigation, Year 6 were treated to a tour of the Cathedral, led by their education service, from the top of the tower to the bottom - the crypt. Whereas most people would be familiar with the exterior of the cathedral and its effect on the skyline of Gloucester, it is quite an impressive building on the inside too. 

The massive Norman pillars in the nave were examined and measured - we decided they were 5 x Mr Maddock tall (i.e. about 10m) and a group with extended arms could just about reach around them. We spotted the Mason’s marks - if they cannot prove that they carved that stone, they do not get paid, and then we moved up to the altar and choir areas. Here the architecture is more complicated, being developed as it was by Edward III to be a fitting memorial to his father, Edward II who is buried alongside the altar. We lay on the floor of the choir stalls and examined the fantastic ceiling, and then moved on to look at the tomb of Robert of Normandy, who we had studied at school when examining the death of William Rufus. We walked behind the massive East window (one of the oldest and best examples of medieval stained glass in the country) through the whispering gallery where all proved that they could communicate with each other at a whisper (a rarity for Year 6!) and went down into the crypt where we learnt how to construct an arch, with the key stone being the significant feature. 

We also saw where Harry Potter had been filmed in the Cloisters and briefly practised being a monk by putting up our hoods and walking in procession through to the Nave - again there might be a problem with the vow of silence! And so to the Tower.... This was a long way up, but great views once you got there. Past the bells and the bell ringing platforms and out into the open. Scary, but very satisfying once you have got down! Well done to all and thanks to the education service for providing us with a great morning.

Click here to see the pictures

See below for the video!