Durham Cathedral comes to Kingston Park

Wednesday 23 March 2016 Written by: Adam


Since 2013, visitors to Durham have been helping to construct its magnificent Cathedral in LEGO©, as the focus of fundraising efforts for a new £10 million exhibition experience called Open Treasure, which is set to open this summer.

Ahead of the game against Wasps, part of the model will be on site in the West Stand concourse, with supporters able to purchase bricks to help complete the incredibly detailed construction.

When complete, the 300,000 piece LEGO© model will be as accurate a scale representation of Durham Cathedral as possible, spanning 3.84 metres in length, 1.53 metres wide and 1.7 metres high.

Transforming public access to some of the Cathedral’s most spectacular spaces and the collections within, Open Treasure will be a world-class exhibition experience which will take visitors on a journey through some of its architectural gems as well as exhibiting the Cathedral’s most precious artefacts including St Cuthbert’s coffin, his pectoral cross, and a collection of Anglo-Saxon carved stones.

With over 230,000 bricks already placed on the model, the Cathedral team is targeting to complete the build by the summer to coincide with the launch of the exhibition, with the Falcons squad set for further involvements as construction draws to and end.

Gaye Kirby Head of Development at Durham Cathedral said: “We are thrilled that Newcastle Falcons are getting behind the LEGO© Cathedral build and lending their support. Durham Cathedral is a much-loved icon of North East England and donations given through the LEGO© initiative are helping us to care for and open up our buildings and collections for many more people to enjoy.

“Who better to ask than the players and fans of the Falcons to help get us over the line and complete the build? We hope that those at the game on Easter Sunday will donate to buy bricks and visit the complete model at the Cathedral.”