The Cromwell museum in Huntingdon has found itself under siege, with a giant Lego model of the English Civil War storming of Basing House in Hampshire.
The model, which was constructed by museum volunteer and Lego enthusiast Mike Addis, is more than 7ft wide and 9ft long and took more than three weeks to assemble.
The construction, made up of some 150,000 Lego bricks, was inspired by an episode in the siege of Basing House in 1645, one of the longest and most famous sieges during the English Civil War.
Basing House, which is located just outside Hampshire, was one of the grandest houses in England and home to the Royalist Marquis of Winchester. It was attacked several times during the conflict before falling to Parliamentary forces commanded by Oliver Cromwell in 1645.
Mike Addis, who is known around Huntingdon for his large scale Lego constructions has made everything from a Victorian doll’s house to a life size Dalek, often does it to support local charity shops around the Christmas period.
Stuart Orme, curator of the Cromwell Museum, said: “Mike’s been incredibly ingenious in creating this massive model bringing to life one of the most famous sieges from Oliver Cromwell’s career, using a vast amount of Lego from his collection.
“It’s a spectacular model that will delight both children and those young-at-heart, and has loads of amazing details to look out for. I really would encourage people to come and have a look during the brief time it’s with us”.
The Cromwell Museum holds a collection of objects relating to the life and times of Oliver Cromwell. The collection has nearly 700 items, including portraits, clothing, miniatures and historical documents written by or about Oliver Cromwell.
The siege model is on display in the Cromwell Museum until June 3. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, from 11am-3.30pm; admission is free of charge. For more details, visit the museum’s website at www.cromwellmuseum.com or call 01480 708008 during opening hours.
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