Carlisle Cathedral, England’s second smallest Cathedral, traces its history back to 1122. Starting life as a Priory Church and becoming a Cathedral in 1133. The building was to be a symbol of Henry I’s authority close to the Scottish Borders.
Over its long and illustrious past, further buildings have come to occupy the Cathedral site including the now Grade 1 listed Fratry Building which dates back to the 1500s.
With financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund; the Fratry building, including the Main Hall and Undercroft, were fully refurbished to provide exhibition, event, learning and teaching space for visitors. The project included the construction a new single storey entrance and link building providing full access to both the Main Hall and Undercroft of the Fratry. The new building, known as the Pavilion, was created as a welcome space for visitors as well as providing public toilets, catering facilities, with a new cafe.
Of clear historic importance, the project was deemed the most significant intervention to occur on the site in 150 years. Extensive upgrades and alterations to the below ground infrastructure, as well as the new light weight construction of the Pavilion were facilitated by weeks of sensitive archaeological digs. This was aimed at protecting and cataloguing the site’s historical below-ground structures.
The refurbishment of the Fratry included the full replacement of all mechanical & electrical services, as well as providing an upgrade and replacement central boiler plant which also serves the Cathedral building. Careful consideration was given to the services required for a modern multi-use space such as this, whilst remaining faithful to the building’s sensitive and historic fabric.
