Southwell Cathedral 140

Southwell Minster is celebrating its 140th anniversary by sharing 140 objects that have shaped its story and its history.

140 years of history in 140 objects: Southwell Minster celebrates its 140th birthday

This year will see several events and services to tell the Minster’s story – from its pre-Minster foundations atop a Roman villa to its present-day iteration as the Anglican cathedral for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire as it marks its 140th birthday.

At the heart of the anniversary year is Cathedral 140 – an exhibition that will see 14 little-known objects go on display every month for the next ten months – each of them telling their part in Southwell Minster’s rich narrative.

The first 14 objects relate to the Minster’s early days and its Roman inheritance and include a terracotta tile with a cat’s paw print found on the site before the current building was built, Roman coins and a Roman bathhouse painting.

The objects will go on display across the Cathedral, Palace and Gardens from Monday 5 February.

Sarah Clemson is Southwell’s Volunteer and Visitor Services Officer and has led on the project. She said:

“We have a rich and varied history. The Minster, the Archbishop’s Palace and Garden have been part of our evolving story for almost a millennium and have stood witness to kings, queens, princes and other leading figures from our history books including Cardinal Wolsey and Charles 1 who both stayed at the Palace.

“It’s been a fascinating project delving into our history, and as we mark our 140th anniversary we wanted to share our story through the objects that have made us,’ she added.

Highlights from some of the other objects in the Cathedral 140 exhibition include mason marks from the first stonemason who made the cathedral, hidden pigs in the Chapter House, medieval pottery and glass, a Papal bull, chalices and wooden mice. All these will be revealed over the coming ten months.

Find out more about some of the 140 objects here.