Chesterfield Landmark

Wednesday lunchtime and I am sat on the sofa watching the snow fall. Only tiny flakes, but its still snow. It was 15 degrees two days ago. Today is 5 degrees, on minute rain, then tiny snow and hail with a blustery wind, then blue sky and sunshine. Winter and spring all in one day.

Photo taken by myself in 2025 of the Crooked Spire during a light festival.

We can see the Crooked Spire from our living room window whilst the tress are bare. Its so beautiful. The Spire has been there since 1362 and isn't even secured down. Being made of oak and lead, the 50 tonne weight of it holds itself in place. I love the church and there are so many myths and legends around how the spire became crooked. The various myths are:

• A virgin got married in the church and the church was so surprised it spun round to see the bride.
• The devil twisted the spire when a virgin got married in the church and he will twist it back when the next virgin gets married there.
• The spire twisted and bowed when it saw the most beautiful woman ever seen get married there and was so overcome with her beauty it never turned back.
• A magician persuaded a local blacksmith to challenge the devil to a fight. The man was so terrified when the devil revealed himself he drove a nail through its foot. The devil was livid that he had been challenged by a fool and lashed out in anger as he was passing the church. His foot hit the bricks, catching the spire and it bent.
• Some say that the devil was sat on the spire with his tail wrapped around it. The bells were rung and the devil was so startled he jumped away but his tail was still wrapped around and he twisted the spire trying to get free.
• Another version is that the devil was on the spire and the incense from midnight mass caused him to sneeze, he kept a tight grip on the spire and it twisted. 

I am sure there are other myths about it too. The real reason it all down to the plague. There was a shortage of skilled workers and the built the spire using unseasoned wood. As the wood dried out the weight of the lead was too much for it and it twisted under the immense pressure. 

Its a landmark for so many. Even when I was a child, travelling up to Sheffield from Suffolk to visit family, as soon as I saw the spire I knew we were nearly there.