Britain’s ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ church to LOSE its iconic wonky spire over ‘serious safety fears’

BRITAIN’S ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ church is set to lose its iconic wonky spire after “serious structural issues” have sparked fears over the building’s safety.

The Grade II-listed Church of St Mark in Friday Bridge, Cambridgeshire is due to have its recognisable spire removed.

Known as the “Pisa of the Fens”, the church has become somewhat famous for its tilting spire.

Built over 160 years ago, the spire has developed a significant lean due to it being constructed with thin bricks.

This has caused drainage problems and leaks, bumping the Victorian church on to Historic England‘s Heritage at Risk register last year.

As a result, Rev Richard Hines put in a planning application on behalf of the church to remove the spire.

The church is built in a decorated Gothic Revival style and is a protected historical structure.

This means no work could take place on the church without planing permission or consent.

The application said: “It is often referred to locally as our Pisa in the Fens, given the noticeable inclination of the tower with its spire.”

It added that the work “will inevitably reduce the prominence of the church in the landscape albeit possibly temporarily”.

Fenland Council have agreed to allow the spire to be removed.

A council conservation officer said: “There is no getting around the fact that the proposed work will ultimately result in the detraction of the significance of the building as the principal and dominant structure within its generally open and rural setting.

“Whilst I have considerable concerns and sadness about the impacts and the loss of this important landmark feature, the spire is ultimately structurally unsound.”

The plan is to remove the upper section of the spire and reduce it to what architects refer to as lucarne level.

This new lead-covered roof would stop the leak issues.

It’s hoped the spire will be rebuilt when funds become available, but it’s unclear how much this will cost.

But permission to take it down was granted on condition that the work begins within three years.

It’s feared that losing the spire will, even temporarily, will affect the church’s historical significance, The Victorian Society said.

Connor McNeill, a senior conservation adviser at the society, said it’s important that the plans for reconstruction of the spire are “brought forward in a timely manner”.

He added: “A full record of the tower should also be made to enable proper reconstruction in the future.”