Rare opportunity to glimpse inside Lincoln Cathedral’s historic Old Deanery
The Lincoln Cathedral Connected project will be hosting a free fun-packed event for all the family during Lincoln Christmas Market.
Christmas at the Old Deanery, which will take place on the 8 and 9 December from 10am – 4.30pm, will give people rare access into one of the historic buildings in the Cathedral’s grounds before it is transformed into a new visitor centre, as well as the opportunity to take part in a number of free festive activities.
The Old Deanery on Eastgate, will be transformed into the new visitor centre as part of the Lincoln Cathedral Connected project. This event is the last opportunity for people to have a look around and see the plans before the big reveal of the new centre in 2020.
During Christmas at the Old Deanery, visitors will be transported back to the Medieval Deanery that once stood in its place with medieval-themed demonstrations and activities throughout. These include medieval musicians de Mowbray’s Musicke, a demonstration of traditional manuscript art by the Cathedral’s Illuminator Toni Watts, Derek Tindell with his magnificent Birds of Prey and Janet Reade of historic caterers Forgotten Fare.
Using Google technology to bring the long lost buildings back to life, visitors of all ages can experience an amazing 360-degree virtual tour of both the Medieval Works Chantry and Medieval Deanery and take a peek into the Cathedral’s medieval past with some of the locally discovered artefacts out on display, all made possible by Lincoln-based Pighill Illustrations and Allen Archaeology.
Other activities include creating Wreaths and decorating Gingerbread to eat or take home. Visitors can listen to stories with a Christmas theme around the tree, sing songs and make a simple decoration to take home. There are four story times to choose from: 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm on both days.
Anne Irving, programme manager at Lincoln Cathedral Connected, said: “We’re so excited to be opening the doors of the historic Old Deanery for this special event during the wonderful Lincoln Christmas Market. It is the ideal time to enjoy some festive activities and share our exciting plans for the space and to give people a sneak peek inside before works begin to transform the building.
“It will be a great event to get into the Christmas spirit and as a family enjoy some child-friendly activities in an incredible setting. We want as many people as possible to join us and I’m especially looking forward to the Christmas stories around the Christmas tree!”
Connected is a Heritage Lottery Fund-backed project to radically improve the Cathedral’s setting and visitor experience by transforming its existing facilities and will bring economic and social benefits to the Cathedral as well as the City of Lincoln
As part of the Connected project, works will include the landscaping of Dean’s Green to create a new open public space, the new visitor centre which will include a larger café and shop, interpretation centre to display some of the Cathedral’s treasures as well as new visitor toilets and changing rooms.
