RARE CHANCE TO VIEW PAINTINGS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY'S MEDIEVAL MOSAICS

It is a ridiculously painstaking task - to create a detailed record of the 13th Century Cosmati Mosaics of Westminster Abbey. The Great Pavement in front of the high altar and the dècor of the shrine of Edward the Confessor is one of the finest pieces of medieval art in Britain, and Dr David S Neal - a renowned expert on ancient mosaics - is charged with completing the project. With more than one million tesserae, or individual tiles, to consider this takes remarkable patience and attention to detail. This weekend Mr Neal will be showing an exhibition of the finely detailed paintings of the Cosmati Mosaics at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Little Brickhill, to help swell funds for the church restoration. You will be able to watch David at work, and talk to him about the project. Discovery and craft activities will run on site for children too. The event will be happening on Saturday and Sunday (July 26 & 27), 2pm to 6pm daily. Admission is £3 for adults, just 50 pence for children.