Mary Coates arranged a visit for the art appreciation group on 19th January to Durham Cathedral. Unfortunately Mary was unable to attend on the day due to illness but she missed a real treat! In the morning we toured the ‘Open Treasure’ exhibition, displaying some of the Cathedral’s most spectacular spaces within the Claustral buildings. We journeyed through the Monk’s Dormitory and old library spaces, finishing in the monastic Great Kitchen. The whole experience was fantastic and we saw exquisite exhibits dating back 900 years. After lunch in the Cathedral Undercroft restaurant, we began a tour of the Cathedral itself with our very own Malcolm Wilkinson as our expert guide. His knowledge and enthusiasm was second to none as he pointed out details we had never noticed previously. He gave us all the history going back over 900 years including the Prince Bishops and the gradual evolovement of the building over the centuries. Many thanks go to Malcolm and the other Cathedral staff for a wonderful day out. Also grateful thanks to Mary for organising the day for us.
The Open Treasures exhibition runs until 11th February – see it if you can. Joan Temple