Opening doors to a more accessible cathedral (From The Advertiser Series)
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Opening doors to a more accessible cathedral
10:26am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News
By Graeme Hetherington
OPEN ACCESS: Barry Grimes, development relations co-ordinator for The Banks Group, and Gaye Kirby, head of development at Durham Cathedral, inspect the new automated doors in the Undercroft at Durham Cathedral
WORK to make Durham Cathedral more accessible has been completed.
The Norman shrine to St Cuthbert has gained a new Undercroft foyer, with automated doors, remodelled steps and a new lift hoist, providing disabled access to the Undercroft Restaurant and Cathedral Shop, which opened to the public on Friday.
The project was made possible by a £10,000 grant from The Banks Group, through its Banks Community Fund.
Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, said: “As a Durham-based business, we’re very pleased to be supporting the Open Treasure project and to be contributing to the continuing evolution of one of the UK’s true landmark buildings.
“Durham Cathedral plays a huge role in the life of the city and the impressive work that has been undertaken here will make it even more accessible to everyone visiting these magnificent buildings.”
Gaye Kirby, head of development at Durham Cathedral, said: “We are delighted that the Banks Community Fund has chosen to support the cathedral’s Open Treasure project in this way.
“Making spaces physically accessible wherever possible is a major focus of the project as we look to transform the way visitors can enjoy the cathedral and gain inspiration from it.”
The Open Treasure project is a major development scheme which includes other changes to cathedral buildings.
