Architecture and History > Tower Restoration

Structural problems with the Tower were repaired in 2006-07.

The Tower restoration project

In 2006 structural problems with the Tower were identified. It was discovered that metal cramps had been inserted into the soft Bath stone of the Tower in an attempt to hold it together. Unfortunately iron rather than more expensive brass or bronze was used for this purpose and after 150 years of howling winds, traffic vibrations and ageing, water had seeped through the mortar and corroded the iron. Expansion from the rusting iron had "blown out" the soft Bath stone, making the path below unsafe and threatening the overall stability of the tower.

Work began in January 2006 to conduct investigations to find the extent of the problem. In April 2007 the second stage of work commenced with repairs to the upper level of the tower. A very successful fundraising appeal brought in the requisite £400,000 needed to complete the work and a Service of Thanksgiving on 16 December 2007 led by The Bishop of Bath & Wells marked the end of the repairs stage of the project and the installation of the new ring of bells.

A new coloured lighting system was installed in the repaired tower

Even better than before

Local people and businesses, Trusts and charitable foundations donated money and expertise to ensure the project was completed and the Tower was saved. The Tower conservation work was carried out by Minerva Conservation.

The clock on the tower was also repaired and a new lighting system was also installed, enabling the tower to be lit in a range of different colours reflecting the seasons of the church - the ‘Advent purple’ being particularly distinctive. The new system uses a fraction of the energy that the old floodlights used and in 2008 we were awarded a national award for our environmentally-friendly and low-pollution external lighting system.
For more on the lights, see the tower lights. section.