Boxwish Blog
Derby Cathedral hopes The Duchess will boost visitors
She’s a heavy-hitter at the box office, but is Keira Knightley a visitor attraction? Hoping that the pouty waif’s pulling power translates into visitor numbers are Chatsworth House and Kedleston Hall, two stately homes that enjoy screen time in Knightley’s latest period romp, The Duchess. As we reported earlier in the month, both sites are maximizing their showbiz connections with exhibitions of the film, the tale of 18th Century aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire. But new to the gang is Derby Cathedral, which is also hoping that film fans will pay a visit to sample some of its movie magic.
The smallest Anglican cathedral in Britain (how’s about that fact-lovers?), Derby Cathedral is the burial site of Georgiana, her husband William, the fifth Duke of Devonshire (played in the film by Ralph Fiennes) and her best friend, Elizabeth Foster/ Bess (Hayley Atwell). It is this connection that the Cathedral is looking to play up, with Georgiana’s coffin plate on the wall and the exterior of the Cavendish vault considered the major sights.
Senior executive officer at the cathedral, David Stanbridge said: “This is a great opportunity to promote the cathedral and it’s something tangible for the public to relate to. Georgiana’s coffin plate is on display so anyone can come in and see it, but we are hoping to do something more to tie in with the film.” Naturally, we’ll keep you posted on any further news here at Boxwish, but in the meantime if you’re in the Derby area and looking for the story behind the film, why not stroll over to Derby Cathedral.
[via This is Derbyshire]
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