The west front of Gloucester Cathedral.

St Peter's Abbey, which only became a Cathedral under Henry VIII, owes much to the courage of Abbot Thoky. When Edward II was murdered at nearby Berkeley Castle in 1327, three other abbots refused to accept the king's remains, possibly because they disapproved of his reported 'unnatural' lifestyle. Thoky accepted the body, risking the displeasure of Edward's many enemies. When miracles were reported at Edward's tomb, the money brought in by the resulting flood of pilgrims enabled the rebuilding of the Norman abbey church.

Gloucester Gloucestershire

This image is available to purchase and is part of our Gloucester Stock Photos Collection.