Changing a light bulb at the top of Salisbury Cathedral's Spire

[@SalisburyCathedral1]

Do you have a head for heights like Gary? You can book onto our Tower Tour and climb to the base of the spire: www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/visit-us/tower-tour/

[@philipwhitty2838]

I drive past the cathedral quite often. I don’t think I’ll look at it in the same light again. Absolutely remarkable workmanship and a great film. Greatest respect to you all.

[@chriskennard5920]

I passed the Cathedral on the day this was taking place and as I often do, I looked up to the spire and had to question what I was seeing...blimey you guys are brave - sooner you than me. Great vid by the way.

[@ronniemorton-y5k]

I remember Roy Spring, one of your predecessors, doing this very same thing back in the seventies. No safety equipment, just a little fortification beforehand - followed by a lot more fortification up the local ale house after! God bless.

[@Mark-ec3lp]

I live in Salisbury, not far from the Cathedral, and saw you climbing when you made this video. Impressive considering the time it was built, and there must have been amazing views back then from the same height.

[@janoginski5557]

Think back to the incredible skill of the stonemasons & carpenters who built this what an astonishing achievement, not to mention working up to this height. It’s mind blowing. Brilliant, ecclesiastical architecture is in the realms of miraculous. I have been fortunate enough to have worked in a church many years back in Time, and it had a special atmosphere, definitely one of the most wonderful places to have worked. I’ve also carried out remedial work on an old bridge that was built in 1789, it was situated far out into the countryside, in a beautiful and secluded location. Two great memories it was a real pleasure to work on these old but beautiful structures.

[@PhillipYewTree]

I’m sitting in my arm chair, safe and sound, but my stomach is turning. Fred Dibnah would admire you for this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Back2TheBike]

Never realised it took 3 men to change a light bulb 😊 Well done.

[@ajons190]

I felt a bit queasy watching it on YT, so I can only admire you guys!

[@theinspector1023]

Only a bit queasy? I had to hide behind the sofa!

[@philthycat1408]

One eye closed and toes curled 🫣

[@cathydyer3774]

😁​@@theinspector1023

[@cathydyer3774]

​@@philthycat1408😁

[@towerdave4836]

Jeez, felt sick just watching the top bit. Respect!

[@cathydyer3774]

😲😲. Such calmness and confidence in the spire. 🎩🧢🎩🧢 off to you all.

[@petersumerauer]

I visited Salisbury Cathedral some years ago. A friendly guy took me for a tour and we talked about the managing to build such a structure. We stood at the foot of the medieval timber-structure and he described how men were building up the tower cap in that days and how men do climb this nowadays to change the lightbulbs up on the tower. So this was a must-see. Thanks for the upload!

[@fredMplanenut]

I was lucky to do the tour a couple of months ago. Fascinating history, and sad that at the bottom of the medieval scaffolding, one is still so lower that your climb in this video, thank you.

[@grahamhawthorn2320]

Just think of the men that built it.

[@stephendodds6480]

And all the safety equipment they had!

[@rogernightly9097]

Well done, you are both heros for climbing right up there.

[@patrickwalker2357]

thank you so much, it was exciting to watch

[@johnvanstone5336]

I have been up this tower with a group of people, wow, what an adventure and went out on the balcony and looked down! My legs were shaking but I am glad I did it!

[@beverleybutler7685]

Wowser what an amazing vlog, what a building! My stomach was churning watching you brave guys! Well done 👏

[@NOELTM]

Clerk of Works " I feel like it's time I had a rise" Bishop " I agree - here's 4 light bulbs" 🙂

[@copferthat]

No safety equipment for the amazing souls who built that majestic structure in the first place. What astonishing men they must have been

[@Wyndhamlane]

That was mind blowing to me. I can't even change the lightbulbs inside my house.

[@jennifermatthews1983]

Gosh, rather you guys than me! Well done all.

[@Keyswiz71]

Anyone else got sweaty palms after watching that? 😆

[@robertkupper1327]

As someone who abseils as a hobby, I am envious of you guys being able to climb such a famous landmark. I would love to abseil from such a height, just give me a long enough rope and my bridge rack. I have watched the video of someone abseiling "El Captain" What a marvel !!! Well done you guys.

[@Back2TheBike]

I did the tour a few years ago. Highly (!) recommended.

[@hb1338]

Thank you for this video. How wonderful to see the cathedral free of scaffolding. According to Wikipedia, the tower and spire were completed by *1330* - that is quite hard to comprehend. The courage and skill of the men who built the cathedral were both quite extraordinary; even today it requires steady nerves and considerable care to get up and down safely. Once upon a time, I would have been keen to get to the very top, but nowadays the climb to the top of the tower is sufficient.

[@WiltshireHare]

Marvellous bit of maintenance. Absolutely the best cathedral!

[@Allied-Aircraft-WW2]

Fabulous work. Keep it up. I walk past the cathedral almost everyday and genuinely appreciate the wonderful work you do to keep it in such great condition. Love the Perigees as well.

[@steelman86]

Drat!!! I was hoping for a night shot of the new lights working!! Great job and what breathtaking views from up in heaven!

[@clivewilliams3661]

Well done, you have my deep respect, that is not a job that I would consider and when I look at all the work that must have been carried by trades people on structures and electrics it sends a shudder down my spine.

[@juliegale3863]

That made my legs go to jelly while sitting in my armchair. Heights have always done that to me. Very well done and interesting, what a view!

[@kevinhemmings5447]

Thanks lads ..What an incredible view from the top of the spire .😂

[@FlyingDarkLord]

Incredible individuals! 😮 Not a job I could do!!! 😳😱

[@johnchurchward7255]

Well that certainly sets off the vertigo, amazed at the guys doing that. What baffles me is how on earth was the place constructed as it was started in 1220, working at those dizzying heights without all the equipment that is now available.

[@jpedrocp]

Wow, amazing job!

[@gordonmorrow4720]

I painted window exteriors on a historic building starting at first floor and working up to the top - 6 or 7 stories high. You kind of get used to the height. But I was never at 370 feet! That’s crazy high. Makes my knees wobbly thinking about it. Well done.

[@marianbuller265]

That was incredible! I did not see much climbing equipment!!!!

[@cncshrops]

I literally could not watch. Absolutely terrifying.

[@GalootWrangler]

It’s the season of scary movies, with none of them remotely this frightening.

[@martinc.720]

Could you watch figuratively?

[@paulus894]

What beautiful work 💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻💯👍🏻

[@jdmjesus6103]

Job description said 'basically just oiling squeaky doors and changing light bulbs...'

[@fredm5245]

Glad I clicked on this.

[@leftpastsaturn67]

If parts of me had twitched any harder watching this, I'd have imploded. Kudos to anyone that can enjoy that view without shaking like a leaf.

[@martin1698]

Totally awesome well done chaps

[@islandhopperstuart]

Anyone else remember a short documentary in the early 1970s about changing these bulbs? I'm pretty sure then the climber was Mick Burke (he later died on Bonnington's SW Face of Everest expedition) and I think it might have been filmed by the famous caving cinematographer Sid Perou.

[@hb1338]

I have seen previous videos of cathedral staff climbing to the top of the spire, but my memory is that they were a lot more recent than the 1970s. Of course, I may be wrong.

[@CarlStJohn-x9w]

Great video ❤

[@goddam9925]

Just wow amazing !!

[@K1W1fly]

awesome structural detail! love it. Bit worried about a random wrench just lying on a platform part way up the spire - you wouldnt want that to fall on anyone below...

[@shaunsiz.itsbetterbytube2858]

Old Fred would have been proud

[@GeoffAdams-pj3ec]

Now did I leave that little door open ???

[@philthycat1408]

Our old friend Mr Dibnah, God rest him. Would’ve loved this wee job. 👍🏻

[@TheBaron481]

one foot wrong and its a half day out wi' t' undertaker !

[@tresparivet6348]

Love it, great post! If Fred Dibnay was still with us, he'd be up there like a rat up a drainpipe!

[@keithbriggs6698]

Dibnah.

[@mallamal5578]

Without a rope.

[@MikeFloutier]

Well worth reading Edward Rutherfurd’s excellent book “Sarum”, which includes the building of the cathedral

[@grahamrankin]

Also important to read William Golding's "The spire" to appreciate the work and politics of building this masterpiece---one of the greatest wonders of the world.

[@johnchapman5819]

"so what did you do at work today?", oh just changed some light bulbs.

[@nortonmolly]

It’s hard to imagine those stone masons lifting those stones that high

[@jimhooper4252]

My legs were jelly buzzing ….these guys certainly earn their money

[@annenewton5403]

My hands are sweating watching it😱

[@johnrubber1144]

Credit to the two that rushed back down to use the loo. I would have gone done it from the top, not into the wind obviously.

[@dougdavis8367]

Steeplejacks hold on to the side of the ladder but as a fire fighter we hold on to the rungs

[@opathe2nd973]

2 things - Are you just a bit crazy? and when it was built, did they have the safety equipment that you had. I'm glad there are people like you because I would die after the first hundred steps. I've been there and I can appreciate your work. Great video!

[@ptonpc]

It's 800 years old (13th Century if I recall). So safety was not a thing back then. Even in the 1970s / 80s. it was not taken as seriously as it is now.

[@cejay67]

So many no’s!

[@Fercough]

Bricking it just watching.

[@anthonyharrison3343]

Shake hands with Fred, whilst you are up there. He will be in heaven waiting to greet you!

[@ptatpc7925]

I remember Kevin McLeod (yes him of Grand Designs) doing this about 25 years ago.

[@ptonpc]

Even just watching this, I know if I had to do that, I would have brown adrenaline running down my trousers!

[@cms9902]

As they say' how many people does it take to change a light bulb'.

[@bendenisereedy7865]

Read The Spire by William Golding (Lord of the Flies) for a fictional account of the increasing of the height of the tower and addition of the spire and subsequent partial collapse of the tower's foundations under the extra weight. You can see the damage inside the nave.

[@justaroundthecorner2883]

Brilliant , thanks for the upload. How on earth does that top part take your weight?

[@mreckes9967]

Look how neat, smooth and square those blocks are, the place must have been built by Aliens.

[@elizabethg333]

Hats off to you guys! I couldn’t do that job, it gave me the heebiejeebies just watching you!😂

[@davidking9707]

Wow!!! That made me feel a little dizzy and that was nothing compared to the transmission towers.

[@davecap2641]

Not good with heights, I do not think my knees will ever be the same again.😱😱😱😱😱

[@tikkathreebarrels]

Sphincter all of a twitch watching this. I want to believe I could do it if the opportunity presented itself but I would not be in any kind of comfort zone.

[@jpvdw70]

But ... some had gone up first/before to adjust all the robes, or not?

[@emmaearnshaw3282]

I could see so many ways I could have got something wrong then. Right which clip does....oh!

[@jackpayne4658]

If I was a firefighter in a blazing building, or a soldier in a war zone - I hope I could act with a decent amount of courage. But there is no possible way I could do that climb.

[@madbadger1327]

How many people does it to replace a light bulb at the top of Salisbury Cathedral?

[@steelman86]

I hope they have LED LIGHTS now!!!

[@georgeprout42]

They'd need to be replaced even more frequently. By design. Look up Dubai lights (Big Clive). LEDs could be environmentally good, but the way they're overdriven outside Dubai, absolutely not.

[@SalisburyCathedral1]

The bulbs at the top of the spire are neon gas bulb. We are currently updating all of our lights to LED lighting. Best, Cassie

[@billy4072]

You need more caribiners..

[@NewCastleIndiana]

Drone opportunity missed.

[@googlebeaglie]

I don’t know what sort of mettle you guys are made of to be able to do this, but grateful God has equipped you to be able to take care of this wonderful old building. As much as I enjoyed this video, I pray that this cathedral would be filled with people whose purpose is to glorify the one true God made known by His Word.

[@nigelamor6682]

Is it true you can see The Isle of wight from there ?

[@eichfelder1951]

I hope each of you got a GBP 20,000 bonus for hazardous work.

[@charlesaeneas]

All part of your standard tower tours!

[@hb1338]

The tower tour ends at the top of the stone steps, just by the first ladder.

[@charlesaeneas]

Yes, I've done it a few times now. I always gaze up inside the spire when up there trying to imagine what going higher would be like. I think I'd just seize up in terror if I tried 🙂

[@salamander5703]

Think I'd be having a very good look at the mortar between layers of blocks on the way up. Before hanging on to that topmost one especially. Does the post with the anemometer go further down into the spire to stabilise it?

[@bendenisereedy7865]

Look again and you'll see the steel staples that hold the stonework together inside.

[@salamander5703]

@@bendenisereedy7865 Thanks. I saw them lower down and wondered what they were! Makes sense if they are a wide U (ie staple!) shape.

[@Rob-e8w]

Thank you, that was most interesting. I wonder if you could tell us what sort of bulbs are used in the aircraft lights?

[@SalisburyCathedral1]

They are neon gas bulbs. Best, Cassie

[@patshiels5429]

Bugger that for a game of soldiers

[@JackRT3]

Do you ever get to the top and realize you forgot the bulbs?

[@davidwinkle2818]

In the video of a Blue Peter presenter climbing it, a previous workman mentioned a time where he went up and forgot the spanner!

[@JackRT3]

@@davidwinkle2818 Ouch!

[@hb1338]

That is what checklists are for.

[@martyncozens5654]

Wow no way I could do that, how on earth do you get the safety ropes up to the top of the spire in the first place, that you used after climbed out the little access hatch??????

[@hb1338]

There was a lead climber ahead of the clerk of works. He would have safety ropes, they are just configured differently because they cannot be attached to the top of the spire until he reaches it.

[@grayman999]

I closed my eyes o lordy 😖

[@jerrycornelius3466]

i can see everyone's house from here

[@Tim091]

I saw Bill's mum's house!

[@rib877]

Was it dark over Will's mum's?

[@mark314158]

👍

[@kenmay1572]

Can't watch it let alone doing it

[@MrDaiseymay]

I THOUGHT THOSE STEPS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS VISIT'S BY SCARED PREDECESSORS

[@kevinsomervilleweir5677]

Some people have all the luck. Imagine being paid to do something so cool. I would pay for the privilege. (Maybe, having been 20 years on a mountain rescue squad, I have a slightly 'unusual' view of this).

[@theotherandrew5540]

It scared me just looking at your view! Definitely not a job for the faint hearted. How the hell did those medieval builders manage to build that?

[@phillwainewright4221]

There's no way I could do that. Some of those brackets they're holding on to are more than 800 years old. Even the new ones have been there for several decades. If one failed ... Well, as ol' Fred would say - "It's half a day out with the undertaker."

[@hb1338]

They are roped up, and would not fall very far, and the brackets are all modern.

[@rayteale8883]

How many does it take to change a light bulb?😂😂

[@gowdsake7103]

Lightbulb 2.50 fitting £2500 pounds priceless ! Why if it is gods church do you need a lightning conductor shouldnt it just be PROTECTED !

[@archiebald4717]

No thanks, not for all the tea in China!