Sunday 25 August 2013

The Crooked Spire ...

It was Spring 2011, perhaps I'd been to hospital and I had some time to play with ... I can't recall ... but I found myself in the Church of St Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield.

If you know the church at all you'll probably know it better as the Crooked Spire ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

It was rather dull outside so I went in to look around ... and noticed this memorial to Betty Bower ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 ... dead at 25 having given birth to at least four children.

I was just in time to take a tour of the tower.

On our way upward we looked down into the nave of the church ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 We reached the bell room where the bellringers ring the bells ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 Then we reached the belfry and the bells themsevles ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 According to Wikipedia "The tower upon which the spire sits contains ten bells. These bells were cast in 1947 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, replacing a previous ring. The heaviest weighs 25cwt. The place in which the bells are situated once held the builders windlass, which is one of the only examples of a medieval crane in existence and is the only example of one that has survived from a parish church. The windlass is now on display at Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery".

We reached the bottom of the spire and looked upwards ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011


Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011


  It's an interesting jumble of woodwork. The tour guide told us the weight of the tower but it hasn't stuck. It was certainly some tons ... and there we were with it above our heads.

We went out into the open and looked up at all the lead rising towards heaven ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 ... then down, into Chesterfield ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 I must admit as I looked up it made my head spin a little.

By the time my feet touched the ground the sun was still out ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 We'd been stood just above the clock ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011

 If you're in Chesterfield and have half an hour or so to spare the Crooked Spire is worth a visit ...

Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield ~ 11th May 2011
 

14 comments:

  1. I've seen it many times, and it was always a landmark pointed out whenever we visited my grandparents in Chesterfield - but I've never been inside. Fascinating photos, Charlie.

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    1. Thank you Alison. This was the first time I'd been in the tower and spire and I've lived here over 60 years. It's worth it just to stare up into the spire ~ talk about a jumble ...

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  2. I've heard of (and read a little about) the crooked spire. This was a most fascinating tour. Lucky you caught the tour of the tower. Very impressive views, both inside and outside!! Excellent photos, Charlie!!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it Mitch. I didn't know whether people would like it or not. If you're ever in the area you should try and visit the Crooked Spire. Thank you for your kind words about my photod

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  3. I have been in the church but not up the tower so it was really interesting to see your pictures inside the tower,and the view from the top. I'm always pleased to see the tower when we come up the motorway,and know we have nearly reached our destination.Ann

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    1. It's certainly a landmark isn't it Ann. The photos in the spire don't do it justice !

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  4. What a fascinating piece of structural engineering! Amazing. :)

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    1. One reason the spire may be crooked is because it is believed the wood used to build the spire was unseasoned. Another reason is that the 30 odd tons of lead may have resulted in it twisting because the side that catches the sun heats up and expands resulting in unequal expansion and contraction.

      The spire is apparently 9 feet out from its true centre ... :-)

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  5. Really interesting post, I never got the chance to visit any spire so I'm glad you did take all those great pictures.

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    1. Glad you found this of interest Diane ... and you enjoyed the photographs.

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  6. Very interesting post. That is quite a unique spire, don't recall seeing one like that before. I wonder who designed it and built it. There's probably a story behind the spire construction...

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    1. The spire is 'crooked' because it is believed the wood used was unseasoned. Another possibility is that the 30 odd tons of lead may have resulted in the wood/spire twisting because the side that catches the sun heats up and expands resulting in unequal expansion and contraction. We are talking of centuries long gone so we will probably never know the real reason ...

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  7. Fascinating, Charlie. This is the only way that I'd be able to experience anything like this ... in the safety of a chair, looking at photographs. I'm terrified of heights!

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    1. I'm frightened of heights if it's an exposed position but where there's a fence or a wall, I'm ok.

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