Editing Peterborough Cathedral (section)

===Civil War to present===
[[Image:Peterborough Cathedral - West prospect C17 - Project Gutenberg eText 13618.jpg|thumb|left|West prospect in the seventeenth century]]
[[File:Peterborough Cathedral High Altar, Cambridgeshire, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|right|The high altar]]

The cathedral was vandalised during the [[English Civil War]] in 1643 by Parliamentarian troops. As was common at the time, almost all the [[stained glass]] and the medieval choir stalls were destroyed, and the high altar and [[reredos]] were demolished, as were the [[cloisters]] and [[Lady Chapel]]. All the monuments and memorials of the Cathedral were also damaged or destroyed.

Some of the damage was repaired during the 17th and 18th centuries. Extensive restoration work began in 1883, which was initiated after large cracks appeared in the supporting pillars and arches of the main tower. These works included rebuilding of the central tower and its foundations, interior pillars, the choir and re-enforcements of the west front under the supervision of [[John Loughborough Pearson]]. New hand-carved choir stalls, cathedra (bishop's throne), choir pulpit and the marble pavement and high altar were added. A stepped level of battlements was removed from the central tower, reducing its height slightly.

The cathedral was hit by a fire on the early evening of 22 November 2001; it is thought to have been started deliberately amongst plastic chairs stored in the North Choir Aisle.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=418347
| title = CATHEDRAL FIRE: Candle theory on cathedral arson
| access-date = 23 January 2007
| date = 27 November 2006
| format = Newspaper
| work = Peterborough Evening Telegraph
| publisher = [[Johnston Press]] Digital Publishing
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185841/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=418347 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref> The fire was spotted by one of the [[verger]]s allowing a swift response by emergency services.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=420733
| title = FIRE: 'I watched the beautiful building go up in smoke'
| access-date = 23 January 2007
| date = 23 November 2006
| work = Peterborough Evening Telegraph
| publisher = [[Johnston Press]] Digital Publishing
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930190052/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=420733 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 30 September 2007}}</ref> The timing was particularly unfortunate, for a complete restoration of the painted wooden ceiling was nearing completion.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=420739
| title = FIRE: Devestating blow to appeal work (sic)
| access-date = 23 January 2007
| date = 23 November 2006
| work = Peterborough Evening Telegraph
| publisher = [[Johnston Press]] Digital Publishing
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928110432/http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=845&articleid=420739 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 September 2007}}</ref> The oily smoke given off by the plastic chairs was particularly damaging, coating much of the building with a sticky black layer.<ref>For a comprehensive study on the fire see ''Peterborough Cathedral 2001-2006: from Devastation to Restoration,'' Michael Bunker and Paul Binski, Paul Holberton Publishing, London 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-903470-55-8}}.</ref> The seat of the fire was close to the [[organ (music)|organ]] and the combination of direct damage from the fire, and the water used to extinguish necessitated a full-scale rebuild of the instrument, putting it out of action for several years.

An extensive programme of repairs to the west front began in July 2006 and has cost in excess of half a million pounds. This work is concentrated around the statues located in niches which have been so badly affected by years of pollution and weathering that, in some cases, they have only stayed intact thanks to iron bars inserted through them from the head to the body. The programme of work has sought donors to "adopt a stone".<ref>Adopt a Stone a gift to last a lifetime. Peterborough Cathedral 2013 (accessioned 20131229) [http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/adopt-a-stone-a-gift-to-last-a-life-time.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103122800/http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/adopt-a-stone-a-gift-to-last-a-life-time.html|date=3 January 2014}}</ref>

The sculptor [[Alan Durst]] was responsible for some of the work on the statues on the West Front.<ref>Alan Durst, Mention of work on West Front.</ref>[[File:Peterborough Cathedral Youth Choir.jpg|thumb|Peterborough Cathedral Youth Choir with conductor David Humphreys]]