Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of the country’s most celebrated Paralympians who has won 16 medals, 11 of them Gold, opened the new, accessible shop and undercroft foyer at Durham Cathedral on 3 November.

The relocation of the Shop into the western Undercroft, off the Cathedral Cloister, brings visitor amenities together in one location.

The new shop is directly opposite the popular Undercroft Restaurant, with both the restaurant and the shop accessed from the new Foyer. The steps into the Undercroft have been remodelled so there is space for a new platform lift, giving access to visitors who cannot manage steps.

Before officially opening the shop, Baroness Thompson said: “Making historic buildings such as Durham Cathedral accessible, in particular providing access to the shop, restaurant and toilets for visitors with different needs, is important.

“I have experience as a mum with my own family of not being able to easily access such important areas on visits to historic buildings.

“It is obvious that a huge amount of thought has gone into this development and it is an open, welcoming and absolutely stunning space.”

The new shop and undercroft foyer were designed by Purcell UK with Chris Cotton as lead architect. Simpsons of York was the the contractor with the Cathedral’s own staff, comprising specialists that carry out ongoing conservation and maintenance work at the Cathedral, carrying out enabling work ahead of Simpsons coming on site and making shop fittings.