TEN thousand doves are flying high inside the historic British cathedral once described as “the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles” – but visitors won’t have their feathers ruffled.

Because the Peace Doves flocking to Lincoln Cathedral are made of paper, created by renowned artist and sculptor Peter Walker as a large-scale art installation complete with music.

Over the summer, some 12,000 people shared messages and prayers on pieces of paper, which were then folded into dove shapes, and have been suspended on ribbon high above the nave of the cathedral.

While the doves soar, a wide range of services and events are taking place beneath them, including some late-night openings accompanied by a soundscape from composer David Harper.

Lincoln Cathedral is one of Europe’s finest gothic buildings, and was begun in 1072 when William the Conqueror commissioned the first Bishop of Lincoln to lay the foundations.

An earthquake in 1185 partially destroyed it, but it rose again using then state-of-the-art architectural features such as flying buttresses, ribbed vaults and pointed arches.

Its central spire, completed in 1311, made it the tallest building in the world, beating the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the cathedral retained the record for more than 200 years before the tower collapsed in a storm.

Peace Doves runs at Lincoln Cathedral until November 14, with admission to late-night special openings by donation. For more details about the Cathedral, visit www.lincolncathedral.com

For information about visiting, and staying in, Lincolnshire, see the Visit Lincolnshire site. Photos: Peter Walker Sculptor & Visit Lincolnshire.