
Southwark Cathedral, London
As it stands today, the cathedral was built between 1220 and 1420. In Shakespeare's time, this was a parish church known as St. Mary Overie. It served the Bankside area in the late 1500s, and so Shakespeare and many of the Elizabethan dramatists would have worshipped and passed through here.
Edmund, Shakespeare's brother, was buried here in 1607 in an unmarked grave. A stone was later placed in the choir area. There is also a stained glass dedicated to Shakespeare's plays, along with a statue of the Bard himself, writing quill in hand.
The site began between 1106 and 1538 as a church of an Augustinian priory. When the monasteries in England were dissolved, it became the St. Saviour's parish church. In 1905, it became a cathedral when the diocese of Southwark was created.
The building was heavily damaged in the London blitz in 1941. It's estimated that Germany dropped more than 1,600 explosive bombs on Southwark throughout the war. You can see shrapnel damage on the exterior of the cathedral to this day.
Edmund, Shakespeare's brother, was buried here in 1607 in an unmarked grave. A stone was later placed in the choir area. There is also a stained glass dedicated to Shakespeare's plays, along with a statue of the Bard himself, writing quill in hand.
The site began between 1106 and 1538 as a church of an Augustinian priory. When the monasteries in England were dissolved, it became the St. Saviour's parish church. In 1905, it became a cathedral when the diocese of Southwark was created.
The building was heavily damaged in the London blitz in 1941. It's estimated that Germany dropped more than 1,600 explosive bombs on Southwark throughout the war. You can see shrapnel damage on the exterior of the cathedral to this day.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Southwark Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: Southwark Cathedral
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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