There are three theories about the spire of All Saints, Chesterfield:
SHOD DEVIL: The story asserts that a magician persuaded a local blacksmith to shoe the Devil. The man was so nervous that he drove a nail into the Devil's foot. The Devil flew off howling and, as he was passing the church, felt a twinge of real agony. He lashed out savagely with his foot which caught the Spire and twisted it, leaving also a footprint on one of the buttresses.
VIRGIN: A story of Chaucerian flavour. The spire was so amazed to hear of a virgin being married in the church that it developed its intricate twist in an attempt to see such a wonder with its own eyes. In a slightly amended version the Spire owes its twist to its admiration of a virtuous maiden of such beauty entering the church that the spire bowed in admiration, and could not resume its normal position.
INCENSED DEVIL: Some attribute the deflection to His Satanic Majesty. The legend goes that Lucifer, after a long day's journey, alighted for a moment on the apex of the Spire. It so happened that midnight mass was being celebrated and that the abundant incense from below so irritated his unholy nostrils that he gave a violent sneeze. He managed to keep his hold with his claws and tail around the Spire; next morning, however, the damage was there for all to see.
There is a fourth in Susanna Clark's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' where the fairies were so incensed at (something) they turned everything to sugar, but by the time the mortals apologised the spire had begun to melt.
Super photo Rachel. Of course they probably just used wood that was too green!!! You can go up inside it and it looks incredible, as though someone's just thrown a load of matchwood up inside!
7 comments:
Not an illusion? Truly crooked?
What kind of church has a crooked spire?
You're going to love this - word verification: develly
That's amazing. I think I might like to live in a crooked spire, perhaps one day when I'm old and grey. ;)
There are three theories about the spire of All Saints, Chesterfield:
SHOD DEVIL: The story asserts that a magician persuaded a local blacksmith to shoe the Devil. The man was so nervous that he drove a nail into the Devil's foot. The Devil flew off howling and, as he was passing the church, felt a twinge of real agony. He lashed out savagely with his foot which caught the Spire and twisted it, leaving also a footprint on one of the buttresses.
VIRGIN: A story of Chaucerian flavour. The spire was so amazed to hear of a virgin being married in the church that it developed its intricate twist in an attempt to see such a wonder with its own eyes. In a slightly amended version the Spire owes its twist to its admiration of a virtuous maiden of such beauty entering the church that the spire bowed in admiration, and could not resume its normal position.
INCENSED DEVIL: Some attribute the deflection to His Satanic Majesty. The legend goes that Lucifer, after a long day's journey, alighted for a moment on the apex of the Spire. It so happened that midnight mass was being celebrated and that the abundant incense from below so irritated his unholy nostrils that he gave a violent sneeze. He managed to keep his hold with his claws and tail around the Spire; next morning, however, the damage was there for all to see.
There is a fourth in Susanna Clark's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' where the fairies were so incensed at (something) they turned everything to sugar, but by the time the mortals apologised the spire had begun to melt.
That's a lovely photo, wonderful light. The crooked spire has always intrigued me....
Thank you. The shot came out very well!
Super photo Rachel. Of course they probably just used wood that was too green!!! You can go up inside it and it looks incredible, as though someone's just thrown a load of matchwood up inside!
That's the most likely, Gina!
I've never been up it, alas.
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