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Abbey Church Foundation Stone Laid

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08/03/1118

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The Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus tells the story of the monastic community at Peterborough from 655, when the very first one was established, to 1177 when he passed away. He is, understandably, in some doubt as to when the foundation stone of the third abbey church of the  monastery - now the cathedral - at Peterborough was laid. The previous building had burned down on 4 August 1116 in the time of Abbot John de Sais/John of Salisbury. We are told that he promptly began the rebuild, laying the first stone on 12 March 1117. However, the formal 'foundation stone' of a building always waits for something firm to lie on. It needs to be seen by people present and future and it was on this date - 8 March 1118 - that the formal laying of the foundation stone appears to have taken place. The exact date of the church's completion - and its dedication by the Bishop of Lincoln - is equally confusing. one source says 4 October 1237 but the popular one is 28 September 1238. Whatever the dates may be, the abbey/cathedral church of Peterborough is a sight for sore eyes at any time. (Mellows, W.T., The Peterborough Chronicle of Hugh Candidus, Peterborough Museum Society, 1980; Gunton, Symon, The history of the Church of Peterburgh, Ed. Symon Patrick, 1990)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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Edith Cavell Commemorated

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09/12/1916

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Edith Cavell spent only a short part of her life here in Peterborough - working in a pupil/teacher capacity at Miss Gibson's school in Laurel Court. It was here that she learned and mastered the French language that proved so useful to her in Belgium. She was not forgotten in Peterborough, and was rapidly accepted as a Peterborian following her death. It was on this day in 1916 that an Irish blue marble plaque in her memory was unveiled by Dean Page in Peterborough Cathedral. This is widely believed to be the first commemoration stone/plaque in the country dedicated to her. It reads:

Right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. In thankful remembrance of the Christian example of Edith Louisa Cavell who devoted her life to nursing the sick and for helping Belgian French and British soldiers to escape was on October 12th 1915 put to death by the Germans at Brussels where she had nursed their wounded this Tablet was placed here by the Teachers Pupils and Friends of her old School in Laurel Court.

As well as this plaque, Edith is remembered in the name of Peterborough's modern hospital complex and a city-centre car park. (Liquorice, Mary, Posh Folk: Notable Personalities (and a Donkey) Associated with Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Libraries, 1991: People of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum Publications, 2009)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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