For centuries Southwark Cathedral Tower provided the best views across the complete curve of the River Thames between the Cities of London and Westminster. In 1638, the Czech Wenceslas Hollar drew his "Long View of London" from here, which would become known the world over as the definitive panorama of historic London. This is drawing gives the new exhibition at Southwark Cathedral its title.

Why the Long View?
If you had stood on the site where the present Southwark Cathedral stands over the course of the last 2000 years, you would be witness to a great deal of the events that shaped the course of human history. The fording of the River Thames by the Romans, the enactment of Shakespeare's plays at The Globe, the great fire of London, the plague, the Blitz. All could be witnessed at this bend in the River - an important crossing point and historic North-South divide.

Built as part of the Cathedral's £10.2m Millennium Project, the exhibition includes: Touch-screen computers allow visitors to discover artefacts uncovered during recent excavations at the Cathedral; vitrines (glass display cases) contain important finds, for a close-up view; commentary is supplied by famous people from the world of film and broadcasting with Southwark links, tracing themes of social and ecclesiastical significance.

Interactive cameras at the top of the Cathedral tower allow people to observe the view of London today, in contrast with the series of historic panoramas recorded from the same viewpoint since the sixteenth century.

A 24 hour time lapse 360 degree view from London Bridge is projected into a dish before visitors, on an 8 minute loop; a mini-theatre traces the contribution of this, London's oldest cathedral building, to local, national and international history.

Myriad, the company who have designed the exhibition and multimedia for this story of Southwark, gathered research material from a variety of sources, and using a variety of media to interpret the findings, the Myriad team have incorporated some fascinating stories and images to create an enthralling exhibition of many layers.

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Reverend Colin Slee, says:
"We believe this exhibition will introduce people to the excitement and drama that marked this part of London for centuries. There is a lot to learn in an entertaining display which children will enjoy as much as adults. I hope that people will enter the Cathedral with an enlivened curiosity and a great respect for its wonderful tradition."

Clare Chance, Exhibition Designer for Myriad, says:
"Working on this project gave us an insight into the history of the River Thames itself: From the top of Southwark Cathedral Tower, the view Hollar recorded, has been home, through time, to: the frozen Thames of the Frost Fairs, wherrymen with bad language (which reputedly Handel tried to mask with his 'Water Music') and four different London Bridges, with six storey houses built precariously on top.

"Southwark as an area has many pasts, but the two which have left the greatest impression are its spectrum of industries and the fact that it was the pleasure district of London itself. It's interesting to note that the most prominent landmarks in Hollar's early sketches are the theatres!

"But the most intriguing stories are those where the life of the Cathedral itself overlaps with the industry and the pleasure in the area. For instance, visitors can discover the nature of 'the Bishop of Winchesters geese', (to give you a clue, an old brothel key is on display in the new exhibition!)

"My favourite quote used in the exhibition comes from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
The Miller says
'And if the words get muddled in my tale,
Just put it down to too much Southwark ale. "
Cathedral authorities could hardly get upset about the amount of alcohol fuelling 'London's Pleasure District'. They had only themselves to blame. The oldest industry in Southwark were the original brewers in the area - the priory monks!

"Going even further back, the statue of a Roman Hunter god, now on display, which was excavated from the grounds, is proof that this site has always been a place of worship, though not originally Christian."

The parishes of Southwark are brought to life in an exhibition which links the past and present of this unique place of worship, whose fortunes tell a story that is at the heart of the history of Southwark and London itself.

Audio tours are also on offer. These have been recorded, using the vocal talents of Peter Barker, Prunella Scales, Tommy Steele, Timothy West and Zoë Wanamaker. Visitors will be able to experience the 'Cinderella' Cathedral in the shadow of London Bridge, in a number of different ways.

'The Long View of London':
Open from 11 March 2001.
Opening times: Open seven days a week all year. Closed only on Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Mon-Sat: 10.00am to 6.00pm. Last Admission: 5.30pm
Suns: 11.00am to 5.00pm. Last Admission: 4.30pm
Admission Charges: Adults: £ 3.00
Concessions (Senior Citizens & Students): £ 2.50
Children (Aged 5-15 inclusive): £ 1.50
Audio tour of the Cathedral (Via hand-held Soundalive Guide):
Adults: £ 2.50
Concessions: £ 2.00
Children: £ 1.25
Combined ticket for exhibition and audio tour:
Adults: £ 5.00
Concessions: £ 4.00
Children: £ 2.50
Family ticket (5 people, min. 2 children): £12.50

PRESS CONTACT: Rose Harding 020-7367 6722 / Patrick Olivier 020-7939 9437.

NOTE: For further press enquiries for the official opening on 28th April 2001 please contact Rose Harding or Patrick Olivier as above.

Ends.

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