Western Daily Press (Saturday)
ASPIRING TO NEW HEIGHTS
WEST experts have returned a golden weathercock that has perched on top of a cathedral’s spire since the 18th century to its lofty position after it was brought down to be re-gilded.
Conservationists Chris Milford, 72, and his son Sam scaled the 315ft-tall spire of Norwich Cathedral with a system of ropes to reach the cockerel-shaped wind vane last month.
Chris founded Wallwalkers in 1988 in Hereford but it is now based on Felix Road in Easton, Bristol.
The firm is much in demand to carry out work on difficult to access buildings across Britain.
It has carried out work on cathedrals, abbeys and even prisons in the recent past.
By using its rope-access skills it avoids the need for scaffolding.
The team returned the weathercock to the cathedral’s highest point on Thursday, after it was covered with a thin coating of gold.
The spire is the second tallest in the country after Salisbury Cathedral.
The current project is thought to be the first time since 1963 that the weathercock has been brought down to ground level.
The 2ft 9ins (83cm) weathercock has crowned the cathedral spire since at least 1756 when the top part of the spire was rebuilt.
It is the cathedral’s third documented spire.
The first known spire was completed in 1297 but was later blown down in a storm of 1361-2.
The next spire was burnt in a fire in 1463 caused by lightning.
The current spire, constructed of a brick cone with stone facing, was thought to have been designed by Robert Everard and built later in the 15th century.
Records suggest it may have been completed in 1485.
Last month Chris told the Norwich Evening News that even at 72 he still loves working at height, although he often leaves the more physical jobs to Sam and other staff.
He said: ““It’s really physical work. It’s not just being up there, but there’s a lot of engineering work at height as well.
“Maybe I’ll keep doing this until I’m 75 – you never know, it might even be 80.”