Ship of Fools: Rooftoop Tours Cathedrals

Thread: Rooftoop Tours Cathedrals Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

Has anyone done one of these? What was it like? So far as I know we do not have them here in the US.

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

Its some years since I was in the Cathedral at Tours, and that was mainly to do with the organ which is a rare example of a 17th century instrument. Not sure about a roof-top tour but I seem to recall going up to the Triforium.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

Do you mean rooftop tours of various cathedrals, or the rooftop of Tours Cathedral?
[Confused]

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :

If you mean "rooftop tours of various cathedrals", my recollection is that you can do one at St Stefan's Vienna - you can certainly climb the tower.

Posted by Jante (# 9163) on :

I remember climbing up inside the dome of St peter's in Rome and coming out very near the top- the view over the city was spectacular- and it took us about half an hour to walk round and round to get to the top!

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :

The rooftop tours of Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals are lovely - great views inside from above, plus views over the cities.

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :

Isn't it Salisbury that still has the medieval crane in the spire?

The only one I've done is St Magnus in Kirkwall which, I'm sure piglet will confirm, is pretty vertiginous - especially at the crossing, where apparently the maintenance man used to just bung a ladder across and climb out to change lightbulbs!

AG

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

Wells is spectacular.

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

Went up the tower at Ely recently, which was fantastic on a sunny day, with wonderful views, and structurally very interesting.
Went into and then onto the roof of the chapel at Eton years ago. Mostly striking views there too- the College laid out beneath you, Windsor Castle, the Thames, planes coming and going at Heathrow- and then a huge dark grey smudge. That was Slough.

Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

I wish when I had been in Britain I had had the time to do all this! Clearly cathedral tours are an entirely separate obsession.

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
Isn't it Salisbury that still has the medieval crane in the spire?

Well for those into such things, the crane from Chesterfield Parish Church* is in the local museum and art gallery.

Jengie

*that of the crooked spire fame.

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :

I can remember as a boy going up (certainly) York, Durham and Salisbury. IIRC once you started to go up the spire, Salisbury has a series of ladders leading from one stage to the next. As you go higher, the view from near the top of each ladder is of an increasingly long drop below. Google finds lots of images.

As an adult I clearly remember being led, in Durham cathedral, between the roof and the stone ceiling of the nave to a wall with a low door. The door opened towards me revealing a narrow walkway around the inside of the tower above the crossing, with a below knee-height protective wall [Eek!]

Opposite was another similar low door leading into the ceiling void above the choir and sanctuary. You can see it here if you look above the curve of the arch inside the tower.

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :

Not a cathedral, but I've stood on the ridge-pole of the chapel at King's College, Cambridge; when the Cathedral Organists' Association had a conference there, the wives were taken up to the roof while the chaps had their meeting. Scary, but worth it for the view.

Posted by churchgeek (# 5557) on :

Apparently it was unofficially done at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, if you knew the right person...but that's been stopped for safety and liability reasons. They do have behind-the-scenes tours that IIRC take people (who can climb all the flights of stairs) up to the bell tower and a little bit through the catwalks. Just not out around the roof.

That was over a year ago, so I don't know if they're still doing it. Since you did have to pay for it, I doubt they would've stopped it, though.

Posted by Macrina (# 8807) on :

I've done one at Lincoln and a long time ago at Durham when I was a student there.

Both were absolutely amazing. It's quite nerve wracking to walk along the narrow wooden walkway above the nave and know that below you is stone, plaster and a good clear drop.

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :

It certainly gives you huge respect for the builders. Now there were blokes with cast-iron sphincters!

AG

Posted by MrsBeaky (# 17663) on :

I've done Chichester Cathedral and I found it fascinating and also strangely moving- the love as well as the craftsmanship were almost tangible.

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