This was a series of book published in the late 1800s through to the 1920s or so, by G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. It was for informational guides to specific cathedrals in the United Kingdom (and a few in France), mostly written by clergy and highly researched.
This post is a collection of links leading to either EPUB or PDF copies of these books, for people who want to track them down and read them. As they’re now in the public domain, you can download them for free from places like the Internet Archive and Project Gutenberg! Huzzah!
Be sure to also check out Some Books About Europe (England, France, Germany, Italy), as the books on this list are recommended on there for travelers to England/France.
Note: Some links here are affiliate links, which means if you click on it and buy something, I get a small percentage. This money goes towards running the blog. Thank you for your support!
Bell’s Cathedral Series
The main list, which I got from the back of the Exeter book.
- English Cathedrals by J.G. Gilchrist
- Bangor by Peaarce B. Ironside-Bax
- Bristol by H.J.L.J Masse
- Canterbury by Hartley Withers
- Carlisle by C. King Eley
- Chester by Charles Hiatt
- Chichester by Hubert C. Corlette
- Durham by Joseph E. Bygate
- Ely by Rev. W.D. Sweeting
- Exeter by Percy Addleshaw
- Glasgow by P. MacGregor Chalmers
- Gloucester by H.J.L.J Masse
- Hereford by A. Hugh Fisher
- Lichfield by A.B. Clifton
- Lincoln by A.F. Kendrick
- Llandaff by E.C. Mogan-Willmott
- Manchester by Rev. T. Perkins
- Norwich by C.H.B. Quennell
- Oxford by Rev. Percy Dearmer
- Peterborough by Rev. W.D. Sweeting
- Ripon by Cecil Hallet
- Rochester by G.H. Palmer
- Romsey by Rev. T. Perkins
- St. Albans by Rev. T. Perkins
- St. Asaph by P.B. Ironside-Bax
- St. David’s by Philip Robson
- St. Patrick’s, Dublin by Rev. J.H. Bernard
- St. Paul’s by Rev. Arthur Dimock
- Salisbury by Gleeson White
- Southwark, St. Savior’s by George Worley
- Southwell by Rev. Author Dimock
- Wells by Rev. Percy Dearmer
- Winchester by P.W. Sergeant
- Worcester by Edward F. Strange
- York by A. Clutton Brock
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recommended
Kindle Paperwhite
I do most of my reading on my Kindle Paperwhite. I like using an ereader because the eInk screen is easier on my eyes, and I like the Paperwhite in particular because I can adjust the backlight, warmth settings, font size and styles, and so on. If you plan to do a lot of e-reading, it’s worth the investment!
“Uniform with above series”
Related books, not officially in the Cathedral Series but similar enough they would fit nicely on the shelf together.
- Bath Abbey, Malmesbury Abbey, and Bradford-On-Avon Church by Rev. T. Perkins
- Beverley Minster by Charles Hiatt
- The Churches of Coventry by Frederick W. Woodhouse
- Malvern Priory by Rev. Anthony Deane
- St. Martin’s Church, Canterbury by Rev. C.F. Routledge
- St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol by H.J.L.J. Masse
- Stratford-on-Avon by Harold Baker
- St. Bartholomew’s Smithfield by George Worley
- Tewkesbury Abbey and Deerhurst Priory by H.J.L.J. Masse
- Westminster Abbey by Charles Hiatt
- Wimborne Minster and Christchurch Priorty by Rev. T. Perkins
Bell’s Handbooks to Continental Churches
For churches on the European continent, of course, which ended up just being France, apparently:
