Dinosaurs from the Natural History Museum are heading to Peterborough Cathedral for summer 2020

October 4, 2019

Peterborough Cathedral has announced that it is to display the Natural History Museum’s touring exhibition, T. rex: The Killer Question, during the summer of 2020.

The display will be installed in the early sixteenth century New Building at the east end of the Cathedral and is made up of 14 dinosaurs, nine of which are animatronic models.

Amongst the collection is a moving, three-quarter size T. rex, as well as life-size T. rex skeleton and a 12-metre-long static model of the creature. Models of other dinosaurs, such as Saurornitholestes, Ankylosaurus, Deinonychus and Edmontosaurues, will also be shown alongside T. rex for comparison, so that visitors can consider the ‘killer question’: Was T. rex a ferocious hunter or a mere scavenger?

It is planned that the exhibition will be on show from 20 July to 31 August and tickets will go on sale in the new year. The Cathedral’s regular programme of services will carry on as usual.

The Dean of Peterborough, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston said: “We are very excited to be bringing this world class exhibition to Peterborough. People asked how we could possibly follow the wow-factor of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft, or Luke Jerram’s amazing Moon and Earth artworks in the Cathedral, but I think this will be a fitting sequel. It will not only be a great day out for families during the summer holidays – children especially love and are fascinated by dinosaurs. But it will also be an opportunity to build on the environmental themes we have explored in previous exhibitions – in this case the diversity of species and how vulnerable to extinction many are. These are big questions about our world and the responsibility we have as human beings to care for it and protect it.

“It will certainly be a logistical challenge to install 14 dinosaurs in our ancient building and we are asking for help from companies and individuals who may have the equipment or skills needed to enable this remarkable project to happen.”

Amongst the list of items needed for the installation, which will be supervised by the Natural History Museum, are an air compressor, pallet trucks, a lifting frame or gantry, a forklift truck and driver, a telehandler and a pair of two metre step ladders. There are also opportunities for companies to sponsor individual dinosaurs and to be associated with publicity for the exhibition.

Alex Burch, Head of Exhibitions, Learning and Outreach at The Natural History Museum, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing T. rex: The Killer Question to Peterborough Cathedral. We hope that the exhibition will be able to educate and entertain an entirely new audience about dinosaurs, specifically the awe-inspiring T. rex. It is our hope that these exciting animals that once roamed our planet can inspire a love of the natural world and motivate people to protect our shared earth.”

To make sure you receive an email alert as soon as there is more news about the exhibition, please email t.rex@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk. To find out more about sponsorship opportunities and the equipment and skills are needed for the installation, please email operations@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.

Information is also on the Cathedral’s website at www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/t.rex or you can follow the hashtag #trexcathedral on social media.