A major conservation job is now underway high above Glasgow, where teams have started dismantling and rebuilding the medieval stone spire at Glasgow Cathedral.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said the three-year program will focus on repairing damaged stonework at the top of the cathedral’s 225-foot spire to help secure its long-term future. A steel frame was installed inside the spire in 1970 to support the medieval masonry, but HES said rusting bolts have pushed against the stone over time, leading to cracks and movement.
HES also linked the problem to wetter conditions, saying increased rainfall has worsened corrosion and is another reminder of how climate change can accelerate deterioration in historic buildings. Stonemasons have already started carving replacement stones. Conservation teams plan to retain and reinstate as much of the original medieval fabric as possible during the rebuild.
For mason contractors and restoration crews, this project is a clear example of what can be hiding inside older structures. When past repairs include embedded steel or other modern interventions, long-term moisture exposure can create stresses that only show up after detailed surveys. HES said the work will be delivered in phases, with crews working around weather windows and strict safety requirements for high-level access. HES also urged the public to stay off scaffolding after incidents of unauthorized access that can disrupt work, divert resources, and add security costs.
Glasgow Cathedral is the city’s oldest building and the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 virtually intact. Dedicated to St Kentigern, also known as St Mungo, the cathedral originated in the 12th century, with much of what stands today dating to a 13th-century rebuild. The current stone spire dates to the 15th century, replacing an earlier wooden spire destroyed by lightning in 1406.
Read the full, original article from The Scotsman here.