Time Passages, by M.J. Dermott, was published in January 2018. One of the biggest inspirations for the book was Gloucestershire Cathedral, so we decided to bring you a few facts you might not have known about this impressive architecture.

Young teenagers Archie and Gus can't believe their luck when they are cast as extras in a huge film production in the Cathedral.

But their dreams quickly take a sinister turn when they come face to face with infamous characters from the past, plunging them into a perilous hunt for King Edward II's royal jewels - and a dangerous game of fate and consequence. On the run from the enemy, the prospect of being burned at the stake suddenly becomes very real...

Time Passages is a tale of time travel with a twist! As the boys discover the secrets of the Cathedral in 1651, they unravel mysteries that are a lot closer to home than they thought.

Gloucester Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship continuously for over 1,300 years since Osric, an Anglo-Saxon prince, founded a religious house on the site in 678-9 AD. Since, the site and Cathedral have seen important historical figures crowned and buried. Henry III was crowned at Gloucester Cathedral, and Edward II was buried in the cathedral. Gloucester Cathedral is filled with Romanesque, English Gothic, and Gothic architecture and is a must-see ancient house of worship.

When Ely Cathedral was built, the town around it was just a small settlement. The cathedral itself has it’s origins in 672 AD, when St. Etheldreda built an abbey church. The present building dates back to 1083. Architecturally, the cathedral is outstanding due to scale and stylistic details. The most famous features is the central octagonal tower with a lantern.

The Wells Cathedral was built between 1175 and 1490, replacing an earlier church built on the same site in 705. It’s moderately sized, but has been described as “unquestionably one of the most beautiful” and “the most poetic” of English cathedrals. In the north transept is the Wells Cathedral Clock, an astronomical clock from about 1325. This is the second oldest working clock in England.

Coventry Cathedral has an interesting history. The original cathedral was bombed during the second world war, resulting in its near complete destruction. The community of Coventry set about building a replacement building during the 1960s, and the resulting modern design is a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Definitely worth a visit. The site now contains both the hollow ruins of the medieval-era building and the modern place of worship.

Winchester Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the longest nave and greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe. Winchester Cathedral has ancient roots; in 635 AD, Cynegils, king of the West Saxons, was baptized on the site. Later, this son Cenwalh built the first Christian church in Winchester. The small, cross-shaped church became known as Old Minster, and visitors can still see where it stood. The site is outlined in red brick just north of the present Cathedral.