Cathedral Cafe and Bookshop

General information

This hidden architectural gem has its origins in a pre-Conquest church, but the story of the present building starts circa 1150 when parts of the surviving nave north arcade were first built. This was followed in approximately 1220 by the southern arcade, which is made up of alternating round and octagonal columns. Following the probable collapse of a central tower around 1320, both arcades were heightened, giving their present form, and new multi-shaft columns added. The church was re-consecrated by Archbishop William de Melton in 1329.