Peterborough Cathedral

"In 1200, the Abbey being in a state of poverty, King John appointed Acharius, prior of Saint Albans, as abbot, by whose care it began to flourish, and in 1238 it contained one hundred and ten monks. It is supposed that soon after this, the beautiful west front of the Cathedral was erected. By the west front must be understood, the square towers, with lofty pinnacles, at the north- west and south-west corners; the three noble gothic arches which stand between these towers; and the portico between the arches and the west wall of the church. Within each of these two towers is a winding staircase, leading up to the top of the portico. That portion of the Cathedral called the new building, which is at the east end, is considered the most modern portion of the whole, the date of it being about A.D. 1500. From this brief sketch of the history of the building, we proceed to describe the dimensions of the principal parts :– length of the whole cathedral, measured on the outside, 479 feet; length of the transept from north to south, 203 feet; breadth of the west front, 156 feet; height of the lantern, 150 feet; height of each Gothic arch at the west front, 82 feet."