1884: A fascinating spat between William Connor Magee, the Bishop of Peterborough, and his dean, John Perowne, was reported both in the local press and nationally. The Birmingham Daily Post and the London Daily News recorded that the restoration work on Peterborough Cathedral had come to a standstill, with workmen being withdrawn. They reported the bishop's disapproval of the Restoration Committee's change to the plans, while the dean stated that little had changed. The Ipswich Journal, however, repeated the bishop's antagonism. It also reported the dean's claim that all the committee wanted was to raise the tower 15ft; if it was not done now, it would not be possible to do it later. The dean also sought to vindicate the Restoration Committee's action by stating that the raising of the tower was in the original contract. He said Mr Pearson, the architect had furnished a design for a noble tower, and proposal to restore the discovered fragments of the Norman lantern and a large proportion of the Norman arcading. The bishop, emphatically against the proposal, threatened to withdraw his promised subscription. The dean responded that subscriptions already promised would more than cover the cost of the tower and urged the speedy removal of the misunderstanding.

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.