Salisbury Cathedral stands free of scaffolding
The Cathedral's said to be in its best condition since being built
Last updated 12th Feb 2024
After almost 40 years, Salisbury Cathedral stands without scaffolding.
The remaining scaffolding around the East End of the building has been removed, allowing us to see the exterior as it would have been seen in the 14th century, when the Spire was added to the building.
It follows what Clerk of Works, Gary Price, has called an 'extraordinary major repair programme.
A topping out ceremony was held last September, where Canon Kenneth Padley, Canon Treasurer for Salisbury Cathedral, blessed the cross at the top of the East End.
Joy, tinged with sadness
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio after the topping out ceremony, Gary told us the Cathedral's now it's best condition, since it was originally constructed.
But for him, the joy is tinged with a bit of sadness.
“We're not going to get up close and personal to all the carvings and the and the glass and all of the other craftsmen and women who've worked on there and left their mark on the cathedral.”
Speaking on the work itself, he said: “We've gone around the cathedral photographing, recording, cleaning, pointing, replacing lots and lots of stones.
“It's a brilliant sign to all the visitors that when they do turn up and they don't see any scaffolding on the cathedral, hopefully they'll think the cathedral is in a really good state.”