COVENTRY Charterhouse has welcomed the return of two 14th-century statues thanks to the 3D printing of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) which is helping to preserve the city’s heritage.
The statues of St Denis and St Lawrence were hidden in the garden at the Charterhouse during the dissolution of the monastries in the 16th-century. They were rediscovered and donated to St Osburg’s Church in the 18th-century and were then found and restored in 1944, more than 100 years later.
Now, due to MTC’s meticulous work, 3D printed replicas of the statues have been restored to the Charterhouse after being printed layer by layer after detailed scans were carried out to ensure they were identical to the originals.
Joe Darlington, director of technology at MTC, said: “As a Coventry-based organisation, we’re excited to apply our technical expertise to the preservation of the region’s history.
“While our 3D printing work typically focuses on developing parts and components for industry, this collaboration showcases the versatility of the technology we work with and the meaningful impact it can have on our communities.”
The Charterhouse reopened last week as part of a new partnership between National Trust and Historic Coventry Trust. There are new artefacts on display, serving as a poignant reminder of the site’s rich history and the monks who once lived there.
Jennie Rutte, manager at Historic Coventry Trust, said: “It’s truly wonderful to see these statues return to their original home at Charterhouse as copies.”
Visit www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/visit/charterhouse/ to learn more about the Charterhouse, and www.the-mtc.org for more information on MTC.
