UK TOPIC #21: ARCHITECTURE
CATHEDRALS
England is home to some of the most extraordinary cathedrals in the world, impressive structures that are
rich in history and dominate their surroundings not just in size but significance.
St Paul's Cathedral, London, was designed in the late 1600s by Sir Christopher Wren, and was
completed in 1710. It replaced the previous cathedral, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. St
Paul's has a large dome, inside which is the well-known Whispering Gallery. This Gallery runs around the
inside of the dome 30m above the cathedral floor. It is (1) _______________ by 259 steps from ground
level. It gets its name because, as with any dome, a whisper against its wall at any point can be heard by a
listener with an ear held to the wall at any other point around the gallery. A low murmur is equally audible.
The cathedral contains the graves of many famous people, and is a huge tourist attraction. Wren was not
only an architect but (2) ___________ a scientist and astronomer. He is buried in "his" cathedral.
One of the most famous churches in Europe, Westminster Abbey in London is like a museum of British
history. The traditional site of royal weddings, coronations, and funerals, many royals are buried here. In the
Poets’ Corner rest the bodies of Chaucer, Dickens, and Tennyson, just to name a few. Westminster Abbey
is owned by the royal family.
Canterbury Cathedral is a World Heritage site. Its history goes (3) __________ to the 6th century when
Pope Gregory the Great sent the missionary St. Augustine to establish his seat at Canterbury. Incredibly,
the original foundations of the church still remain. Canterbury has had a turbulent history, being destroyed
twice by fire and then rebuilt.
Winchester Cathedral is the longest medieval cathedral in England. Dating back to the 11th century, this
beautiful church is the burial place of many famous people, (4) _________________ Jane Austen.
St Paul’s Cathedral in London
Leeds Castle in Kent
York Minster is one of the great cathedrals of the world. This stunning Gothic cathedral was built between
the 1220s and the 1470s and is famous for its large collection of medieval stained-glass windows.
SECULAR BUILDINGS
24 kilometres west of London, Hampton Court Palace was built in 1515 for Henry VIII. Later additions
were designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The Palace is now open to the (5) _____________, and is a very
popular tourist attraction. As well as its fine buildings, it is famous for its gardens and maze (= an area of
paths between high hedges designed as a puzzle through which people try to find their way)
The Royal Crescent is a long curved street in Bath, south-west England. It has a continuous row of houses
on one side and a large open area on the other. A fine example of Georgian architecture, it was designed
and built between 1767 and 1775 (see picture below)
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Oxford and Cambridge, the famous university towns, are also known for their impressive architecture.
THE WORLD OF CASTLES
It is believed that the Normans built about 1000 castles when they ruled England nearly 1000 years ago.
Today, there are over 150 castles in England alone. Some are large, famous and (6) ___________ to find,
while others are almost forgotten ruins.
Windsor Castle
Bodiam Castle
Windsor Castle, west of London, is the Queen's "weekend home". It is the largest occupied castle in the
world. William the Conqueror chose the site in order to protect London from invasion from the west, and
Windsor has housed royalty ever since. Ten monarchs are (7) _____________ in the 15th-century St
George's Chapel. After a fire in 1992, it cost 37 million pounds to restore the castle.
Leeds Castle in Kent is one of the most picturesque castles in the UK, and is open to the public. It has one
unusual feature - a museum of dog collars. You can book a sunrise or sunset balloon flight here!
Bodiam Castle
Bodiam is one of many castles and other buildings in the UK that are owned and maintained by the National
Trust. Property (8) _________________ gave their houses and castles to the Trust so that they could be
looked after by them. The public pay an entrance charge to visit the properties, or buy a membership of the
NT.
Winchester Cathedral
A common sight in Britain
National Trust property
Oxford Guide to British and American Culture+Wikipedia+JG
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