Wimbourne Minster Church spire

Wimborne Minster

"The exterior shows two square towers, one in the centre and one at the west end, and three porches. From the top of the centre tower rose once a lofty spire; the following is an account of what happened to it.

"I will not," says Mr. Coker, in his survey of Dorsetshire, "overpasse a strange accident which in our dayes happened unto it (the Minster), viz., Anno Dornini, 1600 (the Choire beeing then full of people at tenne of clock service, allsoe the streets by reason of the markett), a sudden mist ariseing all the Spire Steeple being of a very great height was strangelie cast down, the stones battered all the lead, and broke much of the timber of the roofs of the Church, yet without anie hurt to the people; which ruin is sithence commendablie repaired with the Church revenues, for sacriledge hath not yet swept awaye all; being assisted by Sir John Hanham, a neighbour gentleman, who, if I mistate not, enjoyeth revenues of the Church, and hath done commendablie to convert parts of it to its former use."

The belief is that the spire was undermined by the concussion of the bells" 

Valentine (undated)

Map - Wimborne Minster