Castles made of cardboard stun visitors
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AN impressive cardboard castle replete with a flamebreathing dragon has been built at Norton Priory in Runcorn – and destroyed – as part of an art project.
Volunteers teamed up with museum staff and artists to construct the keep, battlements and serpent last in time for a day of medieval fun last month and its toppling the following day.
The work is estimated to have involved 1,300 cardboard boxes and 264 rolls of tape and was inspired by the nearby Halton Castle.
Pieces of the structure were retained for a medieval re-enactment event, when armoured knights clash and armed themselves with siege weapons to demolish the remaining walls.
Similar fortresses were being built in each of the Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) six districts by hundreds of volunteers.
The project was led by French artist Olivier Grossette.
The structures were intended to commemorate the region’s historical and medieval buildings.
Lost Castles was the first cultural project to take place across the city region.
Claire Broadhurst, Norton Priory activity planner, said: “It was a great event and the whole project has been really enjoyable!”
Halton is the only district in the Liverpool City Region with its own Norman castle.
It is also home to Europe’s mostexcavated monastic site, Norton Priory. ●