NORTON Priory’s newly refurbished £4.5 million museum in Runcorn is celebrating the launch of the BBC’s Civilisations Festival with a Chinese themed family event.

The festival is an exciting partnership between museums, galleries, libraries and archives and runs from March 2-11.

On Sunday, March 4, from 11am to 4pm, the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu School will be demonstrating dragon and lion dancing and there will be family crafts activities in the education suite.

A mysterious item will also be unveiled after being loaned from National Museums Liverpool.

On display will be an ornate Chinese shrine that was found floating in the sea near Guangzhou in Southern China in the late 18th century.

The loan and event is funded by Art Fund.

Like Norton Priory’s famous rare medieval statue of St Christopher, which dates back to 1391, these shrines were believed to offer protection to travellers.

They were carried in the trading vessels of the sea-faring people of southern China.

Sadly, the owner of this example is believed to have foundered in a terrible storm over two hundred years ago.

Dr Emma Martin, senior curator of ethnology at National Museums Liverpool said: “In most countries around the world, travel has historically been a source of personal risk and danger.

“The incredible St Christopher statue and this ornate shrine symbolise the investment made by two very different cultures to seek divine protection.”

The colossal sandstone figure of St Christopher is twice life size and would have been brightly coloured when it was first created.

Lynn Smith, senior keeper at Norton Priory said, ‘We are looking forward to celebrating the ground-breaking BBC Civilisations series by participating in the associated Festival.

“We are very grateful to Art Fund and National Museums Liverpool for making it possible.”

Fascinating discoveries from the monastic site’s 500 year history are now on display in the interactive museum.