Spire Collapse Activity Pack
Teacher’s Notes &
Scheme of Work for
Spire Resources and Activities
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Introduction
Chichester Cathedral Education Department offers workshops based on the
collapse of the Cathedral Spire in February 1861. These workshops are linked
to a number of different curriculum areas. They can be booked separately or
combined to create a spire themed day. Workshop activities include:
Science – fun, practical activities which investigate the forces involved in the
collapse of the spire. These include arch building, column testing and
tower/spire construction.
History – Pupils use both primary and secondary sources to uncover the
historical facts of the collapse. Activities include a visit inside the cathedral to
look at the evidence of the collapse which can still be seen in the Cathedral
today.
English – Take part in the ‘Spire Inquiry’. Listen to the key witnesses as they
describe their part in the spire collapse, ask questions and then make a
decision about who was to blame.
Maths – Explore the shape of the spire and tower and find out how medieval
stonemasons constructed them. Try out a number of hands on methods for
calculating the height of tall structures, based on geometrical principles.
Art and Design – Spire art and design activities can include making embossed
metal commemorative plaques, collages using a range of different textured
and coloured papers and clay weather-vanes inspired by the Cathedral’s
cockerel weather-vane.
The Cathedral also has a new Spire Trail which can be used as part of a visit to
the Cathedral. The trail takes up to 50 minutes to complete and is designed to
enable children to find out lots of information about the Cathedral’s spire.
For more information or to book a spire workshop please contact the
Education Department of Chichester Cathedral on 01243 812497 or
[email protected]
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Background Notes 1 - 6
1. New Zealand Earthquake - Christchurch Cathedral Spire Collapse
On February 22nd 2011 an earthquake hit the south island of New Zealand causing a
great deal of destruction. One of the casualties of this earthquake was the Anglican
Cathedral of Christchurch, whose spire collapsed. This event took place 150 years almost to the day – later than the collapse of Chichester Cathedral spire, which
happened on February 21st 1861. Chichester Cathedral has a link with Christchurch
Cathedral and the timing of the two events is an amazing coincidence! Footage of the
damage inside Christchurch Cathedral can be viewed on You Tube and on a number
of different news channels via the internet e.g. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asiapacific-12546961 . News reports of the earthquake and damage to the cathedral can
also be seen at: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific ;
www.guardian.co.uk/worldblog/2011/feb22/newzealand;
The Christchurch Cathedral collapse can be used as the starting point of a project on
Chichester Cathedral spire collapse, as this is a visual, immediate and engaging way
of introducing the topic. Children could undertake a research activity, finding out as
much about the earthquake and the damage to the Cathedral.
2. ‘Chichester Cathedral Spire The Collapse (`1861) Otter Memorial Paper
Number 13’, which can be purchased at Chichester Cathedral shop, is a fantastic
resource. This paper provides in depth information about all aspects of the collapse
and rebuilding of the tower and spire. The information included in this pack is based
on this publication.
3. The Science Behind the Collapse
It is generally agreed that the tower and spire collapsed as the main supporting
columns had been damaged by a severe fire hundreds of years before the collapse.
Due to the intense heat some of the stone in the pillars had turned to dust, creating
voids within the pillars. These were obviously weak points, which eventually caused
the columns to fail. In the science workshop at the Cathedral children will learn
about the forces involved in the collapse.
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4. The Chronology of the Collapse
•
1847 – Dean Chandler begins a period of restoration work at the Cathedral to open
up the inside for worship.
•
1859 – Dean Chandler dies and is replaced by Dean Walter Hook. It is agreed that the
restoration project should be completed and that the Arundel Screen should be
removed. Mr. William Slater, the Cathedral Architect, is responsible for this work.
•
January 1860 - Mr. Thomas Yarrow, a civil engineer, is commissioned as an external
consultant. He reports that the removal of the Screen is ‘unattended with danger’
(Cathedral Papers, West Sussex Record Office).
•
February 1860 – As the Screen is removed it reveals great fractures in the piers
(columns) supporting the tower. Mr. Yarrow visits, but sees no reason to alter his
view that it is safe to remove the Arundel Screen.
•
December 1860 – Mr. Yarrow visits again and maintains that there is no danger to
the building.
•
January 1861 – Mr. Yarrow visits the Cathedral for the last time but does not alter his
opinion that the columns can be strengthened and that the building is safe. By the
15th of January it is clear that his diagnosis is completely wrong.
•
17th February 1861 (Sunday) – Additional workmen are brought in to try to prevent a
collapse.
•
20th February 1861- there are very high winds.
•
20th/ 21st February 1861 - Workmen work throughout the night to try to strengthen
the tower. Loud cracks are heard. In the morning, stones are seen to burst out and
flakes of stone continue to fall. At about 1p.m., when the workmen return from
lunch, they are prevented from entering the Cathedral. Just before 1.30p.m., the
tower and spire collapse, ‘as one telescope tube slides into another, the mass of the
tower crumbling beneath it’ (The Builder, 2nd March 1861). The collapse took only a
few seconds and by 1.30 p.m. it was over.
•
26th February 1861 – A public meeting is chaired by the Mayor of Chichester where it
is agreed to rebuild the spire. Mr. Gilbert Scott is appointed as the architect to carry
out the rebuilding.
•
May 2nd 1865 – the first stone of the new spire is laid.
•
June 28th 1866 – the original weathercock is placed on top of the new spire.
•
November 17th 1867 – the Cathedral is formally reopened.
(Otter Memorial Paper Number 13)
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5. Spire Photograph Pack
1. Interior of the Cathedral Looking East – a wonderfully clear photograph which
shows the scale of the damage and the size and type of debris, which had to be
cleared from the interior. Obviously taken not long after the collapse and before the
rubble was cleared from the inside.
2. Interior of the Cathedral Looking West – Taken as part of a series of
photographs, this photograph shows the opposite view to the one above, looking
towards what today would be the main Cathedral entrance.
3. Looking North West – this clearly shows the large hole left by the collapse and the
scale of the rubble. Taken before any of the rubble was cleared.
All three of these photographs were obviously taken only a short time after the
collapse.
4. Chichester Cathedral As it Appeared After the Falling of the Tower and Spire
Feb 21st 1861 – when this photograph was taken the rubble from the interior has
been piled up on the outside, so it was probably taken after the interior photographs.
It clearly shows the large hole in the centre of the cathedral made by the absence of
the spire and tower.
5. View of the Cathedral from West Street showing a number of people – this is
another photograph which captures the period. Children will find the clothes of the
people on the street interesting. It was obviously taken in the winter months, but
probably a little while after the collapse. It again shows the huge gap at the heart of
the cathedral left by the collapse.
6. Gilbert Scott and Workmen – This was obviously taken during the rebuilding.
The person in the top hat on the right is believed to be Gilbert Scott the architect
appointed to oversee the rebuilding. It is thought that the other gentleman in the top
hat carrying a set of drawings is Gilbert Scott’s son who helped him with the project.
The photograph is a wonderful record of a Victorian building site.
7. Rebuilding of the Spire – a photograph taken from West Street showing that the
tower has been rebuilt and the spire is under construction.
8. Fixing Weather Vane on Cathedral, June 28th 1866- although this photograph is
titled ‘fixing the weather vane’ it does not match ‘The crowning of the spire’
illustration which appeared in the Illustrated London News 7 July 1866. The spire
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has been rebuilt, although is still surrounded by the exterior scaffolding. This
photograph was clearly taken on a later date than the previous photograph which
shows the partially rebuilt spire.
9. The Cathedral West ‘ The Organ 1860 – 1888’ – the exact date of this photograph
is not known. The Arundel Screen is clearly not there. Children may put this
photograph as the first one given the date of 1860. However, the stonework looks
recent with machine cut regular blocks which suggests that this was taken after
rebuilding was complete.
10. Chichester Cathedral – An aerial view of the Cathedral. This is a more modern
photograph of the Cathedral which provides a wonderful view of the spire and
tower and how they dominate the landscape. Although there is no date for this
photograph children will be able to deduce that it is more modern as there are cars
on the street.
As the dates of many of these photographs are not known, there is no right answer
to the chronology activity. The activity is designed to see if the children can look for
clues in the picture and make sensible deductions based on their knowledge. The
photos are listed above in a logical chronological order.
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6. Written Extracts – Sources A - E
As teacher you should decide which extracts to use with your children based on
their age and ability. Together the extracts provide a full picture of the collapse.
Some are factual and impersonal in style (The Builder/ The West Sussex Gazette and
County Advertiser) and contrast with the more personal, descriptive and emotional
accounts from the Dean and Sub-Dean at the Cathedral.
A. The Builder 2nd March 1861
This is a description of the collapse published in the Builder some weeks after the
fall, so most of the facts are reported in a detailed, precise and impersonal way.
However, it conveys a good sense of the atmosphere and the feelings of the crowd
that gathered as well as capturing the dram of the collapse. It would be worthwhile
to ask the children to pick out the words which describe this drama and the feelings
of the crowd.
B. George Braithwaite, Sub-Dean
This is obviously a very personal account using colourful and descriptive language.
It was printed in the correspondence columns of The Chichester Journal and General
District Advertiser by the Revd. George Braithwaite, Sub-Dean. A number of words
will need to be explained to the children, but this can be a useful exercise. Ask the
children to list the words they do not understand. Can they try to infer the meaning
from the context, using higher order reading skills? It was written from the SubDeanery in West Street(now part of Prebendal School) and ends with the Revd.
Braithwaite describing running from his study to the front door, by which time the
whole thing was over!
C. Dean Hook letter to Sir W Wood 18th February 1861
Another very personal account of the run up to the collapse. It conveys a sense of
inevitability, despite hoping for a better outcome. This was a private letter was
recorded in W.R.W Stephens (Dean Hook’s son in law) , The Life and Letters of
Walter Farquhar Hook Vol. 2 in 1878. It is also in this publication that it is recorded
he was found by his wife sobbing over the table, his head in his hands. (Information
from the Otter Memorial Papers)
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D. The West Sussex Gazette and County Advertiser 28th February 1861
This is a widely published account, in the local paper of the time but is still very
descriptive in style. It provides some additional detail about the limitations of the
damage.
E. Workman’s Letter printed in the West Sussex Gazette February 28th 1861
This letter provides the only account of the collapse from the workers at the
Cathedral at the time of the collapse. It is the only one that is really an ‘eye-witness
account’. However, its purpose is not just to provide a first-hand account of the
collapse, but is clearly designed to defend the architect and Clerk of Works, against
unjustified criticised by the Cathedral. The workers are very loyal to Mr. Slater, Mr.
Thomson and ....but the letter also provides a real insight into the very dangerous
situation that all the workers were facing as they struggled to prevent the collapse.
This is an element that is not considered in any of the other accounts.
Mr Slater the Cathedral Architect wrote a long and detailed letter to the Editor of the
West Sussex Gazette, in the face of apparent criticism by the Cathedral. This is
reprinted in the Otter Memorial Paper. The people of Chichester were clearly very
upset about the collapse. The local paper printed an advert asking people not to
contribute money for the rebuilding until a full in inquiry had discovered why the
spire fell. The Dean and Chapter obviously felt that they would be blamed and the
Dean in particular stated that people would lay the blame at his door. The Cathedral
appeared to blame Mr. Slater and refused to thank him publically for his work. They
also appointed Gilbert Scott to take charge of the rebuilding, despite his support of
William Slater. Mr Yarrow appears to have suffered some kind of breakdown as a
result of the publicity over the collapse and retired from his work aged 44. Perhaps
he is the real victim of the spire collapse.
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