The campaign to restore Lichfield Cathedral’s iconic central spire has received a welcome boost with the announcement it has been awarded £249,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
£249,000 awarded to Lichfield Spire Restoration Project
The grant means work can now begin to repair and replace the eroded stone.
The 12-month project totalling almost £1m aims to restore the structure, reopen the space to visitors, and explore what the iconic landmark means to its local residents.
Lichfield is the only English Medieval Cathedral with three spires. Its spires have become an iconic landmark for many people, and it is often called ‘the Ladies of the Vale’.
Originally built in the 1300s and almost completely destroyed during the English Civil War, the central spire of Lichfield Cathedral has been rebuilt and restored over the centuries.
This funding gives Lichfield Cathedral a unique opportunity to explore why people have been moved to keep the spire standing, why it has always been so important to the community and what it means to people today.
The project will also tell the story of the craftspeople who have worked on it over the last 800 years and will see community engagement and demonstrations from modern craftspeople using traditional techniques to restore part of this Grade 1 listed building.
Scaffolding is being built to start the first phase of the restoration works, which are due to be completed by the end of 2023.
Later in the year a series of community engagement projects will take place that will see the tower reopened to the public, tower towers restart, and interpretation to tell the story of the central spire by April 2024.
The Very Revd Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield said:
“It is a significant moment in the history of Lichfield Cathedral. The funding allows us to repair and replace damaged or eroded stone on the central spire, we can also raise awareness of what this impressive landmark standing at the heart of the city, the central spire serves two purposes; to be a beacon of hope to the community it serves, and to point people’s gaze towards God, the foundation of our faith and the reason for the construction of this ancient and sacred building.
We are grateful to all of our donors, individuals and organisations who have committed their funds to this project and to the players of the National Lottery.”
In addition to the grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, significant funds have also been pledged by the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, HS2 Community and Environment Fund, and the Headley Trust, along with many other grants and donations generously contributed by hundreds of donors.
