St. Mark's Church in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, is set to have its historic spire removed due to significant structural issues, including drainage problems and leaks. The church, affectionately known locally as the 'Pisa of the Fens' for its noticeable lean, has a spire that has developed its inclination over decades as the ground beneath the 160-year-old building shifted.
Last year, St. Mark's was added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk register, with concerns mounting that the spire, a defining feature of the Grade II-listed building, was contributing to its structural problems. Fenland council has now granted permission for the upper section of the spire to be dismantled.
A council conservation officer acknowledged that the proposed work would diminish the building's significance and that the loss of the landmark feature is a cause for concern. However, the spire is deemed structurally unsound. Planning documents do not indicate an immediate risk of collapse, and there is hope that the spire could be reconstructed in the future. For the time being, the structure will be temporarily capped until funds can be raised for its rebuilding, the cost of which has yet to be determined.
Reverend Richard Hines, of St. Mark's, stated in his planning application that the spire's lean contributes to its local nickname. He also noted that the work would reduce the church's prominence in the landscape, possibly temporarily.
The Victorian Society supports the planned demolition but reiterated that it will impact the building's historical significance. Senior conservation adviser Connor McNeill emphasized the need for timely proposals for reconstruction and for a complete record of the tower to be made for future rebuilding efforts. Permission for the demolition is conditional on the work beginning within the next three years.
Separately, St. James' Church in Dry Doddington, Lancashire, another British church with a leaning spire, requires approximately £100,000 for repairs. Its 14th-century spire angles at 5.1 degrees. Church warden Richard Loynes expressed a need for similar funding levels to those received by the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The spire at St. James' is believed to have shifted due to the building being constructed on a clay base, which expands and contracts. While the church has been underpinned to prevent further movement, the intention is to preserve the tilt, which is considered a unique characteristic of the tower. A decision on whether to preserve St. James' spire is pending, and a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support potential restoration work.