It's very nearly Ely! Couple recreate picturesque cathedral... using 400,000 LEGO bricks

They started building with Lego to amuse their young son. But for Mike Addis and Catherine Weightman, it developed into a hobby of their own.

Now, 26 years on, they have found a higher calling – building a detailed model of Ely Cathedral. 

The couple used about 400,000 little plastic bricks to recreate the Cambridgeshire landmark, known as the ‘ship of the Fens’ because of the way it towers over the landscape.

All lit up: The 4ft-high model has a main tower, an octagon and even stained glass

The replica features stained glass windows, flying buttresses and the famous octagonal Lantern Tower

Their snow-topped model is 12ft long and 4ft high. It faithfully includes features of the Romanesque cathedral, such as the stained glass windows, flying buttresses and famous octagonal Lantern Tower.

Mr Addis, 62, a semi-retired economics teacher, said: ‘It was highly technical and required an awful lot of thought. 

'There are lots of different angles to take into account. It was quite tricky and we had to do it in sections.’

Devotees: Mike Addis and Catherine Weightman with their labour of love

By Andrew Levy All lit up: The 4ft-high model has a main tower, an octagon and even stained glass, above Towering: Ely Cathedral is 216ft tall

He and his wife, 57, who live in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, built the model to go on show inside the 216ft-high cathedral, which was built in 1083. 

However, the pandemic means plans to display it have been put on hold.

Last Christmas the couple – who have their own Lego demonstration videos on YouTube – made an 8ft-high ski resort, also using around 400,000 bricks.