Durham Cathedral to release LEGO kit to raise funds

Durham Cathedral will this week start selling the third in its series of custom LEGO mini-model kits that can be used to build a model of the Norman cathedral.

The final edition will contain 1,880 bricks and is described as a collector’s construction set rather than a building toy. The kits have become collectors’ items so the Cathedral Shop is expecting brisk business from 9am on Saturday 28 November when the kit goes on sale.

The model, which is recommended for those aged 14 years and above, will be on sale at £199 with profit going to help fund Open Treasure, a £10 million development transforming some of the Cathedral’s most historic spaces into a world-class exhibition route, due to open in Spring 2016.

The kits’ success have grown from the LEGO Cathedral building project, which combines the traditional fundraising method of buy-a-brick with the fun of LEGO.

Vanessa Ward, Business Support Manager at Durham Cathedral, , said:

“Ever since we released the first mini-model of the LEGO Cathedral, we have had people asking if we would be doing larger versions. Our second edition model included the addition of the cloister and this third edition is on a much larger scale and designed for the serious LEGO enthusiast.

“It is wonderful to see that alongside the public’s support for the main LEGO Cathedral building project, there is still a thirst for the miniature models as well and we have already had in the region of 40 enquiries about this latest edition, which is released next week so we are gearing ourselves up for a busy time in the shop on Saturday 28!”