'ROYAL Beasts' will soon glower down from the dizzy heights of Worcester Cathedral as a skilled team works to replace a pinnacle toppled by a violent storm.
Scaffolding now covers the tower of the Cathedral with the finishing touches soon to be added as part of repairs following the ravages of Storm Arwen in November 2021.
A vortex swirling around College Yard dislodged the pinnacle, sending it crashing through the cathedral roof as Worcester was battered by high winds.
The city may be used to peregrine falcons making a home in the heights of the Cathedral but, soon enough, there will be new creatures in the structure's bestiary - a crowned lion, a unicorn and a dragon to look out over Worcester.
The hope is that the pinnacle can be installed at the end of next month with a delay of eight weeks caused by the nesting peregrines.
As well as installing the new, north-facing pinnacle (it is part of a twin set), the east-facing pinnacle, which sustained fractures within its base due to the storm, will be dismantled and rebuilt with restoration work to the base shaft stones.
Apprentice stonemasons, Debbie Branford and Alfie Rollett, will replace the cornice stones on the north upper quire clerestory parapet, cutting out and replacing the damaged cornice stones.
The new north-facing pinnacle will comprise a unicorn and a lion head, crafted by Stonemason Neil Berry, and a dragon’s head created by Master Mason, Darren Steele.
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These are to represent the Royal Beasts and will commemorate the Coronation year. The unicorn will have an oak horn made by the Cathedral Carpenter, Dave Skipp.
Some of the pinnacle crocket stones have been carved by a freelance stonemason, Saul Sheldon, who worked as a mason at the Cathedral in the past.
Craig Atton, another freelancer who trained here at Worcester Cathedral, will be joining the team to help with dismantling the damaged pinnacle, whilst the Cathedral team will be covering the restoration and repair.
The new pinnacle is made of red sandstone called Hollington, and was purchased from Hollington quarry - its place of origin in Hollington village Staffordshire.
The Cathedral was battered by 100mph winds when the storm hit Worcester in November 2021 and the pinnacle was toppled, crashing through the north choir and leaving a gaping hole in the roof.
Chief operating officer Matthew Hall said it was one of the biggest scaffolding jobs they had ever had and the biggest ever undertaken by Malvern Scaffolding.
Stonemasons have taken some of their inspiration for the Royal Beasts from the royal palace of Hampton Court.
"We have an amazing team of stonemasons. This is a traditional heritage skill we continue to this day. The skill of the masons is incredible," he said.
The work, which is expected to take 12 weeks, started on May 30. The scaffolding has gradually expanded, ready for the new pinnace to be lifted into place.
The damaged pinnacle was carved in the 1950s.
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