A forthcoming bird’s-eye tour of Chester Cathedral promises something for everyone – breathtaking views, a sense of adventure and a touch of the spiritual.
For an admission of £8 for adults and £6 for children (under 16s), tour groups are invited to journey through 900 years of history, past locked doors and via hidden rooms.
Cathedral at Height has been years in the planning and seven months on site to complete but will be unveiled to the public for the first time on April 5.
Climbing heavenwards, visitors will take in aerial perspectives of the cathedral nave, its ceilings and intricate high level stonework before views of the city skyline are revealed at the top of the tower.
Guides with a passion for history will relay tales of medieval mysteries and of a defeated king.
And the bell-ringing chamber has been transformed into a modern exhibition space to tell the story of the cathedral’s ancient bells using specially commissioned split-screen images and surround sound technology.
The 100-year-old Tower Clock, an original feature of the cathedral’s bell-ringing chamber but removed in the 1960s, has been restored by specialists Smiths of Derby.
A carillon, a musical box which allowed one person to ring eight bells simultaneously using a handle, has also been returned to its original home in the chamber.
Chester Cathedral will be hosting a wide range of tower-related activities during the Easter holidays to celebrate the attraction’s launch.
Vice Dean Peter Howell-Jones said: “We are delighted with the Cathedral at Height visitor attraction and are sure that visitors will love it. It is always wonderful to be able to welcome people to the cathedral – and our new access all areas guided tour will allow them to see more than ever before.”
Heritage manager Nick Fry said: “Cathedral at Height is a very exciting project – and we can’t wait to open to visitors.
“We are thrilled to be able to reveal more of this magnificent building and share more of our fascinating history and heritage via new stories and new perspectives.”
The attraction has been made possible thanks to £1.4m funding from Cheshire West and Chester Council granted because of the knock-on effect for Chester as a whole – increasing ‘dwell time’ and visitor spend.
For more details and to book tickets email: tower@chestercathedral.com or visit
