Blandford Forum Camera Club

A goodly number of us assembled at the entrance to meet our guides. Divided into sheep and goats we left the bright afternoon sun for the cool interior. In the north west corner we encountered the first flight of steps. Our guide assured us we would all make the climb, ‘I can do it at 96 so you can do it’ …(actually he was only 76, or was it 67?).
The spiral stone steps were steep and quickly (relatively) took us to our first resting place under the sloping roof. The amazing structure of oak beams was explained by our knowledgeable guide. The huge timbers had been shaped green; of necessity because it would have been impossible to have cut seasoned oak with the iron tools available in the 13th century. Also explained was how the structure had been stiffened to overcome the force of gales causing the roof trusses to move; in the spirit of belt and braces a ships mast, split down the middle, had been used as a diagonal brace.
The next flight of steps was reached by walking along the gallery at the west end of the cathedral. From this vantage point there is a view the full length of the building; many shutters clicked. These spiral steps had a rope to hold onto and a tighter spiral. During this climb the spirit was still willing but the legs were beginning to protest.
Another break, more detailed explanation and a walk along the length of the building above the arched ceiling took us to the base of the spire. The quarter hour bell greeted our arrival.
We marvelled at the construction detail explained to us (well I marvelled!). This included how adjacent stones around the periphery had holes bored in the top with a channel cut from the hole to the edge. This allowed each stone to be secured to its neighbour with an iron ‘staple’; molten lead being used to seal and protect the iron. Huge rolled iron braces connect corner to corner with the separate sections secured with metal wedges. Apparently nuts and bolts were pretty scarce in the thirteenth century.
Further spiral steps, this time wooden, but reassuringly sturdy, took us up two more levels until we reached our objective. This level allowed access to the parapet from which we could look down on the cathedral roofs and then on to Salisbury spread out before us. Amazing; the sun was shining, there were fluffy white clouds in the blue sky, in all ‘picture perfect’. Many pixels were shuffled and organised.
The spire however went on upwards and if you were brave you could look up and wonder what sort of person could have worked at the soaring height above us.
Then, tuition from our guide on how to go down the spiral stairs ‘hold the left hand up and point the toe into the centre’ and down we went.

If you didn’t go, you missed something special; if you did you will probably agree it was memorable. Thank you Eric.
Keith