West Facade and Triple Arch Portal
Nave Looking East with Wooden Ceiling
South Nave Arcade and Romanesque Columns
South Aisle Vaulting and Stone Carving
Painted Ceiling and Sanctuary Screen
North Transept Chapel and Stained Glass
Sacred Geometry: Peterborough Cathedral
Benjamin J. Cheng's architectural photography series at Peterborough Cathedral documents one of England's finest examples of Norman Romanesque architecture. Dating from the 12th century, the cathedral presents a masterclass in medieval building techniques, and Benjamin's images capture both its monumental scale and intricate decorative details.
The series opens with the cathedral's distinctive Early English Gothic west facade, renowned for its three soaring arches—a dramatic architectural statement that announces the building's significance within the Cambridgeshire landscape. Moving inside, Benjamin's compositions reveal the spatial drama of the Norman nave, where rhythmic arcades of rounded arches create a powerful sense of perspective and procession. The warm honey-coloured stone, illuminated by natural light filtering through clerestory windows, emphasises the cathedral's material presence and weathered authenticity.
Benjamin pays particular attention to the cathedral's celebrated features: the intricately painted wooden nave ceiling, a rare survivor from medieval England; the ornate fan vaulting that demonstrates the sophisticated geometry of Gothic architecture; and the vibrant stained glass windows that punctuate the stone walls with colour and narrative. His photographs capture how light transforms these interior spaces throughout the day—from the soft glow on carved stone details to the dramatic interplay of shadow and illumination in the side aisles.
Through precise composition and sensitivity to architectural proportion, Benjamin presents Peterborough Cathedral as both historical monument and living sacred space—a structure that has shaped the spiritual and civic life of its community for nearly nine centuries.
