WINCHESTER Cathedral is launching an immersive and inclusive experience for blind and visually impaired visitors.

Trained guides will be offering ‘Touch Tours’ every six weeks for blind and visually impaired people to explore the cathedral’s history, architecture and artefacts through tactile engagement.

The idea came from long-standing Winchester cathedral guide, David Farthing who said the initiative was inspired partly in his capacity as the founding chairman of the Winchester Talking Newspaper for the blind, and partly because his blind friend Keith Hatter offered to help plan such a tour.

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Mr Farthing worked with fellow guides, including Paul Tanner, cathedral staff, and the cathedral clergy to develop the ‘Touch Tours’, resurrecting the 3D model of the cathedral which had been specially designed to help blind people.

Keith Hatter, who lost his sight 30 years ago, played a pivotal role in the development of the tours, contributing to its design and implementation.

Mr Hatter said: “The cathedral and its guides have worked very hard, and successfully, to make its atmosphere, artefacts, and history accessible to those with visual impairments, who may visit with confidence that they will have an enriching experience.”

Last year’s trial tours received positive feedback from visitors leading to them becoming a permanent fixture. Five tours have been organised with around 15 visually impaired visitors going along with their companions this year.

Since then, five tours have been organised and attended by approximately 15 visually impaired visitors along with their companions.

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The Very Rev Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester, said: “I’m enormously pleased that the cathedral is now able to offer Touch Tours and have seen for myself the difference that this can make to visually impaired visitors.

“I’ve seen real delight in the reaction of participants, and this is just what we’d like all our visitors to experience.  I’m enormously grateful to David and Paul, and our other volunteers for enabling more people to engage with the heritage of the cathedral because the cathedral is here for everyone.”

Winchester Cathedral offers 'Touch Tours' once every six weeks, and bookings can be made online or by contacting the Box Office at 01962 857275 which is open 10am to 4pm.

Both individual and group bookings are welcome, with a fee of £10.00 per tour, while companions can join free of charge.

For more information or to book go to winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/touch-tours-designed-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired/.