I am visiting St Albans Cathedral, a place where Christians have worshipped for around 1,700 years

I am visiting St Albans Cathedral, a place where Christians have worshipped for around 1,700 years

I am visiting St Albans Cathedral, a place where Christians have worshipped for around 1,700 years, longer than anywhere else known in Britain.

The cathedral is built around the story of St Alban, regarded as Britain’s first Christian martyr, and the building carries centuries of English history in its walls. Medieval architecture, later restoration, carved woodwork, painted ceilings, monuments and religious art all sit together in the same space.

My photographs capture some of those layers. Outside, the mix of flint, brick and stone shows how the cathedral has developed over different periods. Inside, the High Altar Screen from 1484 dominates the space with its Gothic detail and figures, while smaller details such as the statue of St Stephen bring the history down to a more personal scale.

A Gothic quatrefoil, a decorative motif common throughout Europe

A Gothic quatrefoil, a decorative motif common throughout Europe

One of the joys of wandering without a plan is discovering unexpected details. This small metal ornament caught my eye because, at first glance, it reminded me of an English Tudor or Lancashire rose. That immediately brought to mind the remarkable historical ties between Bilbao and England, built over centuries through trade, shipping, iron, and industry. On closer inspection, it is probably not an English rose at all, but a Gothic quatrefoil, a decorative motif common throughout Europe. Sometimes, however, what matters most is not what you find, but where your curiosity takes you.