The exhibition, which was last seen in the UK at Longleat in 2018, includes a 12-metre-long static model of a T. rex as well as a life-size T. rex skeleton and nine animatronic dinosaurs. It poses the killer question: Was T. rex a ferocious hunter or a mere scavenger?

To help visitors answer the question, the exhibition presents scenes showing the behaviour of several different dinosaur species, from the small and agile Sauronitholestes, to the savage Dromaeosaurus and the plant-eating Tenontosaurus. It also shows examples of bones and fossils to see what they can tell us about T. rex.  

The roaring of animatronic dinosaurs will come from the early sixteenth century ‘New Building’ at the far end of the Cathedral where the exhibition will be on display. On Wednesdays there will be a special ‘quiet hour’ at around 11.00am for visitors who prefer to see the dinosaurs without sound and movement. This also means that the regular 11.00am service of Holy Communion can go ahead undisturbed.  

On Thursdays during the exhibition there will be fun-packed craft and storytelling sessions for children, entitled ‘To Extinction and Beyond’. Sessions will run at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm each week and will focus on a different aspect of dinosaurs, from eggs to extinction to fossils. Nearer the time, it will also be possible to book tower top climbs and family-friendly Cathedral tours on selected dates.

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough, said:

“People have asked how we could possibly follow Tim Peake’s Spacecraft or Luke Jerram’s amazing artworks, but knowing how popular dinosaurs are at the Natural History Museum in London, we feel that this will be a fitting sequel. It’s going to be a great day out for families, not just to see T. rex and his friends, but also to spend time exploring this wonderful Cathedral and asking our own big questions about the world and our place in it.”

Alex Burch, Head of Public Programmes at the Natural History Museum said:

“We are thrilled to be bringing T. rex: The Killer Question to Peterborough. 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.”

The Cathedral has been appealing for local exhibition sponsors and already Henson Crisp, Independent Financial Advisers, have come forward and will be hosting an exclusive evening for clients during the exhibition. 

Jonathon Crisp, Managing Director of Henson Crisp said:

“We are proud to be supporting the dinosaur exhibition at Peterborough Cathedral this summer. The Cathedral is taking on a fantastic role bringing high profile exhibitions to the city. Their work is giving our local communities access to knowledge and learning opportunities that may otherwise involve significant travel. At Henson Crisp we strongly believe in supporting local initiatives and therefore had no hesitation in stepping forward in support of this prestigious event. We look forward to our involvement.”

Speed, the design agency which has produced animations and graphics to promote the show, has sponsored a dinosaur too and negotiations are underway with other sponsors and practical supporters. If you’d like to get involved in this exciting project, please contact Dawn Caplin at Peterborough Cathedral Trust (reg charity no 1159730) on 01733 355311 / 07849 946937, or dawn.caplin@peterboroughcathedraltrust.org. 

In due course, volunteers will be recruited to help with various aspects of running the exhibition. 

Tickets

Tickets to see T. rex: The Killer Question are £6 per person, or £20 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children aged 3-16 years). Tickets for To Extinction and Beyond, the children’s craft and storytelling sessions on Thursdays, are £5 per child. All tickets are available via the Cathedral’s website www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/t.rex or by calling 01733 355315 during office hours.

About the exhibition 

• For information about T. Rex: The Killer Question, see www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/t.rex

• The exhibition will be located in the New Building, at the far end of the Cathedral. This building was completed around the year 1500 and its fine fan-vaulted ceiling is thought to be designed and constructed by John Wastell, who went on to create the famous ceiling at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge.

About T. rex

• T. rex is short for Tyrannosaurus rex, which means ‘tyrant lizard king’.

• T. rex lives up to its reputation as one of the most fearsome animals of all time. Its powerful jaws had 60 teeth, each one up to 20cm (8 inches) long and its bite was around 3 times as powerful than that of a lion.

• Bite marks found on Triceratops and Edmontosaurus fossil bones show that Tyrannosaurus could crunch through bone. Analysis of fossilised Tyrannosaurus dung shows that it contained the bones of its prey. But was it a hunter or a scavenger? Visit the exhibition to find out more and see what you think. 

• Text © The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London, 2019. All rights reserved. For more information see https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-directory/tyrannosaurus.html  

About the Natural History Museum 

• The Natural History Museum exists to inspire a love of the natural world and unlock answers to the big issues facing humanity and the planet. It is a world-leading science research centre, and through its unique collection and unrivalled expertise it is tackling issues such as food security, eradicating diseases and managing resource scarcity.

• The Natural History Museum is the most visited natural history museum in Europe and the top science attraction in the UK; we welcome around five million visitors each year and our website receives over 850,000 unique visitors a month. People come from around the world to enjoy our galleries and events and engage both in-person and online with our science and educational activities through innovative programmes and citizen science projects.

• For more information about the Natural History Museum’s dinosaur collection please visit https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/palaeontology-collections/dinosaur-collection.html

• T. rex: The Killer Question is one of the Museum’s three touring exhibitions that include animatronic moving dinosaurs.

• Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast will be on display at Norwich Cathedral from 11th July to 31st October 2020 as the final venue of Dippy on Tour: A Natural History Adventure that has visited seven further venues across the UK.