A farmer has spent more than 30 years building a scale model of a biblical temple – and admits it won’t be finished in his lifetime.

Alec Garrard has hand-baked and painted every clay brick and tile of his replica of Herod’s Temple – which measures 6m (20ft) by 3.6m (12ft).

The 78-year-old has also sculptured 4,000 tiny human figures to populate the courtyards.

‘It will never be finished as I’m always finding something new to add,’ said Mr Garrard, from Norfolk.

‘I have an interest in buildings and religion so I thought maybe I could combine the two. I’d seen one or two examples of it in biblical exhibitions but I thought they were rubbish and I knew I could do better.’

His work, which sits in a building in his garden, has been given the seal of approval by visitors from around the world – including top archaeologists from Jerusalem.
‘It’s now recognised as the most authentic version of the temple in the world,’ he added.

King Herod’s Temple was built in 19BC and covered 15 hectares – four times the area of Windsor Castle.

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Website: Metro.co.uk
Author: Unknown