The Light District: Crown and Coronation event in Carlisle has been hailed a resounding success after attracting thousands of visitors.
More than 4,500 people marvelled at the spectacular sound and light show, held at Carlisle Cathedral and Carlisle Castle last week.
The event brought the splendour of the Crown Jewels - 300 miles from their home at the Tower of London - to the city.
Carlisle was the only city in the North of England to host the event, which was held between Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 February.
Brought to Carlisle, with the support of Cumberland Council’s Destination Management team, ‘Crown and Coronation’, produced by Historic Royal Palaces and Luxmuralis, explored the history of coronations in an immersive experience.
The event was also organised with the support of Carlisle Cathedral and English Heritage. It was supported by funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
To coincide with the Light District event, other landmarks within Carlisle were also lit in different colours, including the Citadels, Court Square (Station Hotel and The Griffin), Crown & Mitre Hotel, Civic Centre, former Hoopers’ building, and the Guildhall.
Councillor Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council’s Executive Member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Historic Royal Palaces and Luxmuralis event to Carlisle as the first event within our new Light District programme which will also include an event in St Bees Priory in March.
“The event was a resounding success and attracted thousands of visitors. I would like to thank everyone involved - especially our Destination Management team and the support staff who made the event run so smoothly.”
Crown and Coronation has been created by Historic Royal Palaces - the charity that cares for the Tower of London - in partnership with Luxmuralis - as part of an artistic collaboration between artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper. It brought the spectacle, significance, and shared experience of Coronations to life, demonstrating the pivotal role of the Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, within the ceremony.
Following a nine-day run at the iconic fortress, the show is embarking on a UK wide tour, taking the story of the Crown Jewels across the country to be enjoyed at some of the most famous landmarks and locations, including Carlisle last week.
The show featured stunning imagery spanning across the centuries encompassing the reigns of some of the most famous English monarchs including William the Conqueror, Elizabeth I, and Queen Victoria.
Visitors also had the chance to marvel at detailed footage of the Crown Jewels, the objects at the very heart of the coronation ceremony, projected onto Carlisle’s historic buildings.
The Light District is a new Cumberland Council programme of events.
The next Light District event lined up by Cumberland Council will be held at St Bees Priory on the evenings of Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March.
Tickets for Space: God, The Universe and Everything - a spectacular sound and light show - are now on sale.
Tickets are £4 and are available to buy online at discovercarlisle.co.uk
Tickets are also available to buy in person, at Carlisle's Tourist Information Centre, The Beacon Museum, Whitehaven and St Bees post office.
Brought to St Bees, with the support of Cumberland Council’s Destination Management team, the event is produced by Luxmuralis,