MEDIEVAL paintings in Durham Cathedral have been brought to the forefront after the completion of a major renovation project that has also given parts of the cathedral a new lease of life.
Using £20,000 worth of grants from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund, the cathedral has replaced the old lighting in the Galilee Chapel with a state-of-the-art LED lighting system.
As well as both costing less to run than its predecessors and supporting the cathedral’s drive towards carbon neutral status, the greater power of the new lights has revealed a range of new details of the paintings and the surrounding architecture which had previously been difficult to see.
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This includes the wall paintings in the Galilee Chapel from the medieval era that are believed to date back to around 1300.
Whitewashed over at the Reformation, they were revealed again during the 1800s, and while much has been lost, they provide an insightful glimpse of how the Chapel would have originally looked.
The images include a Crucifixion, scenes from the lives of the Apostles, and full-length figures of St Cuthbert and King Oswald of Northumbria.
While revealing details previously hidden, the new LED lights will also help to preserve the paintings for the future, as they significantly reduce the levels of harmful ultraviolet (UV) light falling on the surfaces.
Not only that, but the funding has also paid for a range of other essential works to be carried out, including the installation of new cast iron hand rails alongside the steps that lead down into the Chapel from the cathedral’s main entrance.
Essential conservation work has been carried out on one of the Chapel’s medieval stained-glass windows where the glass had come loose from the frame, while a new fire detection system has also been installed.
Further safety work has been undertaken to ensure stonework above one of the building’s emergency exits stays firmly in place.
The programme of works was identified after a review of the cathedral’s structure was carried out in the wake of devastating fires at other historic buildings, including Notre Dame in Paris and the Glasgow School Of Art.
Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham, said: “At almost 890 years old, Durham Cathedral requires constant management to preserve this magnificent historic building and ensure it remains safe and accessible for all our community to enjoy.
“The new LED lighting has completely transformed the space, revealing the intricate architectural and pictorial details in the Chapel’s upper reaches in a way that was not possible before. Combined with work to improve safety and accessibility, the Galilee Chapel is ready to welcome all our visitors for decades to come.”
The Banks Group is a long-term supporter of Durham Cathedral, with a previous £10,000 grant supporting the installation of fully automated doors between the Undercroft Foyer and the cathedral’s restaurant.
Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the Banks Group, added: “Durham Cathedral is a world-renowned architectural wonder and perhaps the most important single element of North East England’s cultural heritage.
“We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the preservation and well-being of this iconic County Durham structure, and to have helped to reveal some more of its treasures to its many visitors.”
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