The site of Henry III's coronation and Edward II's shrine

In October 1216, nine-year-old Henry III was crowned at the abbey. His mother, Isabella, was present for the ceremony, and her bracelet was reputedly used in place of a crown. The abbey had long enjoyed important royal connections, beginning with the patronage of William I, who held his Christmas Court there in 1085 to initiate the assembly of the Domesday Book.

The building's history is marked by major fires and significant reconstruction. After a fire in 1088, Abbot Serlo began a major rebuilding in 1089. With royal support from figures like William I and Walter de Lacy, work on the nave, apse, crypt, and chapter house was undertaken on an exceptional scale. By the 14th century, the choir and transepts were reconstructed, featuring the earliest surviving example of structural fan vaulting.

The cathedral contains the shrine of Edward II, who was buried there following his murder at Berkeley Castle in 1327. While some believe the abbey benefited from pilgrimage gifts to the shrine, Nikolaus Pevsner suggests the revenue more likely came from the new king making donations. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536, the abbey was refounded as a cathedral. Today, it is a Grade I listed building that has served as a filming location for the Harry Potter movies.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons