Renovations on Gloucester Cathedral’s world-famous Cloister to begin, supported by Julia and Hans Rausing

Work is underway to conserve the extraordinary 14th century Cloister at Gloucester Cathedral, as outlined in the Cathedral’s 10-year Development Plan. The Cloister is widely regarded as one of the best and earliest examples of fan vaulting in the world, and to many it’s famous for being ‘Hogwarts’ in three of the Harry Potter movies, making it of international significance. However, a 2019 survey confirmed it is at risk and in urgent need of conservation.

Julia and Hans Rausing have given £550,000 to the project, which is essential for ensuring the Cloister remains at the heart of the Cathedral for generations to come. Visitors to the Cathedral will be able to see this conservation work first-hand, learning about the people and the techniques used to protect the heritage buildings that we love. There will be opportunities for the public to engage with the stonemasons throughout the project, with carving workshops, demonstrations and a range of other activities.

Julia and Hans Rausing commented: “No one who walks through the Cloister at Gloucester Cathedral can fail to be struck by its overwhelming beauty. The intricate design of the stonemasonry, particularly the fan vaulted ceiling, is remarkable and its visual impact touches the many thousands of visitors to the Cathedral each year. We are delighted to help ensure that this magnificent feat of medieval architecture is preserved so that visitors and worshippers can continue to enjoy it for hundreds of years to come.”

Canon Dr Andrew Braddock, Interim Dean of Gloucester, said: “We are hugely grateful to Julia and Hans Rausing for their incredibly generous support of this project.

“The Cloister, with its amazing ‘fan-vaulted’ ceiling, is one of Gloucester Cathedral’s most iconic and beautiful spaces. Sitting at the heart of the Cathedral’s buildings, it is a place of encounter, meeting, reflection and wonder, attracting thousands of visitors every year. This project will ensure the Cloister remains open for everyone and will be at the very heart of the Cathedral’s daily rhythm of life for generations to come.”

2nd August 2022