£2.5m plan for Derby Cathedral

Derby Cathedral has unveiled plans for £2.5 million five-year regeneration project, which will help establish the venue as an entertainment and heritage centre.

The Cathedral will be introducing innovations, such as digital technology to allow Derby and Derbyshire characters, such as Bess of Hardwick – who is buried in the 18th century building – to “tell their own stories” to visitors.

Other works will see regeneration of the facilities at the Cathedral, including new flexible seating, restoration of the organ, and renewal of the concrete flooring.

Rev Dr Sue Jones, acting Dean of Derby, said: “The project will enhance the ability of the cathedral – already the largest seated venue inside the ring road – to host events and concerts on a far larger scale. It will attract new visitors to the city centre and bring the city to life at night.

“We want to enable the cathedral to offer a gathering place for events and services large and small. This will invigorate the city centre and help the cathedral’s work to continue for centuries to come.”

Derby Cathedral has been working in partnership with QUAD, On Event Production Co and the University of Derby, to help bring the project to life.

Adam Buss, chief executive of Derby QUAD, said: “The Cathedral’s most famous monument is Bess of Hardwick’s tomb. We will be able to develop cutting-edge apps and interpretative technology which will allow Bess and others commemorated in the Cathedral to tell their own stories.”