---
title: "Southwell Minster"
description: "Located in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Built Norman nave and towers c.1108–c.1150; choir c.1234–60; chapter house 1290–1300. Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. Grade I. Romanesque, Early English and Decorated style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Nottinghamshire","Southwell","Grade I","Romanesque","Early English","Cathedral"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/southwell-minster-southwell"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T02:43:18.507Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T16:00:15.810Z"
location: "Southwell, Nottinghamshire"
country: "England"
county: "Nottinghamshire"
town: "Southwell"
address: "Church Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, NG25 0HD"
postcode: "NG25 0HD"
built: "Norman nave and towers c.1108–c.1150; choir c.1234–60; chapter house 1290–1300"
architect: "Nineteenth-century restorations include Richard Ingleman, William Wilkins Snr and Ewan Christian"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Southwell and Nottingham"
grade: "I"
style: "Romanesque, Early English and Decorated"
materials: "Ashlar with lead roofs"
website: "http://www.southwellminster.org/"
openingHours: "Southwell Minster is open every day of the year, from 8am to 7pm in summertime (March to October); and in wintertime until 6.30pm or dusk."
parish: "Southwell Minster"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1374853"
gridReference: "SK 701 538"
accessNotes: "Non-accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby. Accessible toilets in church"
---

# Southwell Minster

Southwell Minster, formally the Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Grade I Church of England cathedral on Church Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.

## Overview

Historic England lists the minster church and attached chapter house. The Norman nave, aisles and west towers date from about 1120–1250 on the site of an Anglo-Saxon church. The choir, aisles and east transept chapels were built about 1233–1260; the chapter house about 1290–1300. A choir screen of about 1337 and later fourteenth- and fifteenth-century windows complete the medieval sequence. Fabric is ashlar with lead roofs, in Romanesque, Early English and Decorated styles: an aisled nave with clerestory and twin west towers, north porch, transepts, crossing tower, aisled choir and octagonal chapter house.

Wikipedia records a minster established after King Eadwig granted land to Archbishop Oskytel of York in 956. Norman reconstruction began in 1108. The church became a cathedral in 1884 (often dated 1888 in older summaries). After a fire of 1711–14 the south-west tower, nave and crossing were reroofed. Richard Ingleman removed the western spires in 1801; William Wilkins Snr reroofed the chapter house in 1803; Ewan Christian reinstated the west-tower spires and renewed nave and transept roofs in 1880. The chapter house is celebrated for its carved foliage. The minster is open every day.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1374853](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1374853)
- [Southwell Minster (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwell_Minster)
- [Southwell Minster official site](http://www.southwellminster.org/)