It has a legitimate claim to being the world’s oldest violin. 

The string instrument was made by craftsman Philip Taylor from the 5,000-year-old wood of a semi-fossilized ‘bog oak’ discovered at Wissington Fen, near Downham Market. 

And now people will have a rare opportunity to hear the violin played at a concert given by the Blythe Quartet at St Peter’s Church in Guestwick on Saturday, July 29.

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Mr Taylor, who lives and works in the village, said the instrument was the first and only one of its kind.

He said: “The back and the sides of the violin are made from wood that’s more than 5,000 years old - that’s older than Stonehenge. 

“Personally I can’t grapple with that kind of timespan.”

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Mr Taylor described it as a moment of “joy and relief” when the violin finally took shape. 

He said the quartet planned to play a range of music including classical, folk and some more modern pieces. 

The concert will be a fundraiser for the church, and tickets for the performance, which starts at 7pm, are £10, available at the door, by emailing bogoakviolin@gmail.com or calling 07776 362287.