Newsletter – October 2015
October 6th, 2015There are two very obvious landmarks on the skyline of Worcester. There is the solid, square tower of the Cathedral and in contrast the 245 foot slender spire of St. Andrew’s Church, known locally as the ‘Glover’s Needle’. The name being inspired by the industrial glove making for which Worcester was once renowned. In the 1920s the slum housing which crowded round the 15th century church was removed and sadly, along with it, the main congregation of the church. By 1948 the neglected church had fallen into decay and it was demolished to create a garden of remembrance and to allow for the widening of the Deansway to form a ring road. However, the tower and spire were left, freestanding.
Our speaker this month, David Simons, who is Chief Surveyor for Worcester City Council and now responsible for the ‘Needle’ recounted its history and its current maintenance. He explained how the future stability of the slender spire had been ensured by the installation of a lengthy, tensioned, stainless steel rod within the spire to secure the top directly to the tower below.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday 1st December when we will have a presentation by Adam Mindykowski, from the Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service entitled ‘Archaeological Survey in the Wyre Forest: an Ancient Landscape Revealed’. He will show how modern technology has revealed both Iron Age and Industrial Revolution sites which until recently have been invisible to the eye. Visitors are most welcome at all our events – see Home Page for details and contacts.