G is for Gloucester Cathedral

The A to Z Tour of Harry Potter Film Locations takes us next to Gloucester Cathedral, which was used for the corridors of Hogwarts.

A place of continuous workship for the last 1300 years, the current Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Invisible Trinity (or Gloucester Cathedral for short) was begun in 1089. Still a place of worship today, the Cathedral hosts regular services, concerts, exhibitions, events and tours. If you're feeling fit, you can climb the 269 steps to the top of the tower, for a view of Gloucester.  The cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral are spectacular, and I really felt like I was walking through the hallways of Hogwarts when I was there.  All I needed was a robe and a moving staircase.

The cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral, with its medieval lavatorium, became the corridors of Hogwarts.  In The Philosopher's Stone Percy Weasley leads the first year Gryffindors through the cloisters and across the courtyard before winding up at the doorway to the Gryffindor common room, covered by the portrait of The Fat Lady on their first night.  They later retrace their steps on Halloween: Harry and Ron, running to find and warn Hermione, first see the troll walking through the northern cloisters near the lavatorium. 

In The Chamber of Secrets, the warning “enemies of the heir, beware” is scrawled on the corridor wall, and later a distraught Moaning Myrtle floods the cloisters. 

In The Half-Blood Prince Harry, hiding in the lavatorium, overhears Snape and Draco discuss the Unbreakable Vow.

Side note - also in Gloucestershire (the county where Gloucester is located) is the village of Dursley. 

“The surname ‘Dursley” was taken from the eponymous town in Gloucestershire, which is not very far from where I was born.  I have never visited Dursley, and I expect that it is full of charming people.  It was the sound of the word the appealed, rather than any association with the place” said JK Rowling.  I visited Dursley, which is a standard small town – none of the conveniences of a larger place (like somewhere for lunch!), and lacking the charm and friendliness of a village.  Do you get the impression that I wasn’t too impressed?  I apologise to the people of Dursley – I’m sure you’re nice and I was just out-of-sorts.  

Happy travels,

Ros

Over at Fangirl Stitches, I'm cross stitching two alphabets for the challenge.  G is for Geodude (Pokemon) and Gabriel the Trickster (Supernatural)