The brave blacksmith drove a nail into the foot of the Devil with such force that the Devil screamed in agony and flew towards Chesterfield. As he passed over the Parish Church he viciously kicked out with his injured foot, caught the Spire and twisted it. The spire has remained crooked ever since.
Why is Chesterfield Cathedral wonky?
The theory now is that the distortion was caused by the lead covering added to the wood shingles some years after initial construction. During the day, the south side of the tower heats up in the sun, causing the lead there to expand faster than that on the north side.
How was the Crooked Spire built?
The Spire was ‘twisted’ when unseasoned wood was used during its construction with 32 tons of lead tiles placed on top and as the timber dried out the weight of the lead twisted the spire.
Which city has a Crooked Spire?
Chesterfield’s
The ‘Crooked Spire’ is Chesterfield’s best known landmark. You might have seen photographs of it before, or even caught sight of it from the train, or from your car. Maybe you already know that it’s 228 feet high, and that it ‘leans’ 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre.
Which Cathedral has a twisted spire?
Designated a Grade I listed building in 1971, St Mary’s is best known for its twisted and leaning spire (known as the Crooked Spire). It is the largest parish church in the Diocese of Derby, and forms part of the Archdeaconry of Chesterfield.
Why is Chesterfield steeple bent?
However, the spire certainly is not crooked. It is twisted and leaning, but not crooked. Historians have suggested a number of factors for this – the use of unseasoned wood, a lack of skilled labour, the later use of heavy lead sheeting in the 17th century.
When did the Chesterfield spire twist?
The Crooked Spire. St Mary’s is famous for its peculiar 13th century twisted spire, which leans at an alarming 9 feet 5 inches from true. But why does it lean? The typical explanation is that the builders used green timbers, which warped over time.
How many crooked spires are there in the UK?
Chesterfield Crooked Spire, since 1994, has been a member of the Association of the Twisted Spires of Europe – and there are 72 altogether!
What is the story of Chesterfield?
The history of Chesterfield
The story of Chesterfield has been over 2,000 years in the making. From its roots as a Roman fort close to the very edge of the Roman Empire its excellent transport links helped it become a prosperous market town in the Middle Ages, serving north eastern Derbyshire and beyond.
What is Chesterfield famous for?
Chesterfield is perhaps best known for the crooked spire of its Church of Saint Mary and All Saints and is why the local football team is known as The Spireites. The spire is twisted 45 degrees and leans 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m) from its true centre.
Is Chesterfield a nice place to live?
With Chesterfield being named the second-best place in the UK to raise a family, we spoke to parents and business owners in the town to find out what makes it so great. There are many factors to consider when planning to start a family – one of the most important being where to live.
Does Chester have a Crooked Spire?
The ‘Crooked Spire’ is Chesterfield’s best-known landmark. You might have seen photographs of it before, or even caught sight of it from the train, or from your car. Maybe you already know that it’s 228 feet high, and that it ‘leans’ 9 feet 6 inches from its true centre.
What is the purpose of a spire?
As a functional element, skyscraper spires act as lightning rods and broadcast antennas, but as an architectural element, they are often used to increase the apparent height of buildings to perhaps assuage the vanity of building developers and architects.
Where is the most crooked church in the world?
The Church of St Martin, Cwmyoy, Monmouthshire, Wales, was begun in the 12th century, although most of the current structure dates from the 13th century. The church is most notable for its extreme tilt, the result of a landslide.
Which cathedrals have 3 spires?
Lichfield Cathedral has a splendid setting and a fascinating history. Its three spires are unique amongst medieval cathedrals and are often referred to as ‘the Ladies of the Vale’. The church’s history begins in the 7th century when Bishop Chad moved the seat of his diocese to Lichfield.
Can you go up the Crooked Spire?
Tower Tours are taking place every Friday and Saturday from 2.30pm. Please not there is a limit of 15 people to each tours, and one tour only to each advertised time. Tickets are available in advance from the church Gift Shop. For more details and requests for tours on other days, please call 01246 206506.
What is the original purpose of a steeple?
According to legend, the form and design were constructed to naturally attract attention and draw the gaze upward, creating a sense of spirituality and religious contemplation. The steeple additionally distinguishes the tower from the neighboring structures.
What does a steeple symbolize?
In architecture, a steeple is a tall tower on a building, topped by a spire and often incorporating a belfry and other components. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure.
Why do Protestant churches have steeples?
Churches of all sects were often the center of their communities. Accurate clocks could be difficult to come by, so the bells and clock tower components of churches alerted the community to the correct time — often, time to head to the church for worship.
Who is the most famous person from Chesterfield?
1. Paul Burrell. Paul Burrell from Grassmoor is a former servant of the British Royal Household. He was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales.
What did Chesterfield used to be called?
However, the Roman fort gave its name to Chesterfield. However, by the 10th century, a village had grown up at Chesterfield. The Saxon word for a Roman fort or town was caester and their word for grazing land was feld. So the village was Caester Feld.