We have news of another exciting attraction to book in for your themed staycations as Norwich Cathedral says it will welcome a larger than usual guest when the 900-year-old building hosts a 22-metre-long Diplodocus dinosaur.
The dinosaur, affectionately named Dippy, will take centre stage in the main nave of Norwich's Anglican Cathedral from July to October 2020 on the last leg of a two-and-a-half-year nationwide tour for the country’s biggest and best known dinosaur from London’s Natural History Museum.
The dinosaur model is in fact made from plaster-of-Paris, and has been exhibited in London for some 111 years, since 1905, with Dippy’s tour aiming to help inspire a generation of scientists, as well as allowing families to discover this historical aide, organisers have said.
The visit was revealed on Monday 14th November by the Dean of Norwich Cathedral, who was more than pleased to announce the plans to have the Cathedral be part of the upcoming tour.
Dean Jane said: “Historically, naves in churches and cathedrals have been used for a wide variety of activities. Today, cathedrals across the country host a variety of events from traditional concerts and dinners to fashion shows and Christmas markets.
“The presence of Dippy in Norwich will naturally bring people from all backgrounds and beliefs and will stimulate questions and debate about creations and the origins of life as well as some of the major issues facing humanity today. It will prompt people to think about aspects such as climate change and food production.”
He added: “In addition, we hope Dippy will be a source of enjoyment and a fun experience to attract people of all ages to come to the Cathedral.”
The education department at the Cathedral have stated they intend to work in conjunction with major institutions in and around Norwich and East Anglia in order to develop an interesting range of activities for school children from all over Norfolk and the wider eastern region. This falls in line with plans to get every school child in Norfolk to visit the Cathedral at some point.
The exhibition will be free of charge for anyone wanting to visit, with costs being met externally and not by the Cathedral itself.
Norwich will be the sole destination that uses a place of worship to host Dippy’s presence, as all the other venues will be art galleries, museums, and the National Assembly for Wales.
Image: Drow male under Creative Commons.