Earthquake Damage to Church Spire

St. Mary's Church, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire

Grade I listed, the Church dates from the 13th Century with a tower and crocketted spire erected in the 15th Century, and extensions to the nave carried out in the 19th Century when considerable redesign and refurbishment took place. The Nave was extended by one bay and further renovations in 1850 by G G Scott. The Tower and Spire is centrally located within the church complex and stands at 130ft tall.

The walling is a mixture of coursed and rubble masonry with dressed quoins, parapets and mouldings. The spire and pinnacles are crocketted. The roofs are mainly lead but the Chancel is large flatly laid slates and cover strips.

The church spire was severely damaged in February 2008 in the 5.2 magnitude earthquake near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. The insurance company has been notified and a claim agreed, structural scaffolding has been erected to stabilise the damage structure, dimensional surveys and specification have been drawn up for the repair. Some 9.3 metres of the spire will have to be dismantled and reconstructed.

For more information, see the following web link.

www.saveourspire.org.uk

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