Project Details
Design and fabrication of specialist structural metalwork for spire renovation.
Client: Charlier Construction
Sector: Architectural
Status: Completed
The problem:
The spire of St Peter’s had suffered decades of water ingress, leading to significant structural movement. A survey revealed that the King Post had been severely compromised by a WWII bullet hole—a remnant of a 1944 attack on Folkestone Harbour. This historic damage, combined with the loss of the original finial during the Great Storm of 1987, had left the spire’s apex unstable and exposed.
Our Solution
To restore structural integrity without replacing the historic timber, we engineered a custom two-piece stainless steel splint. This assembly encapsulated the damaged section of the King Post, bolting through to provide a rigid, high-strength reinforcement.
At the King Post junction (the apex where the four primary structural timbers converge), we installed a custom-fabricated four-way spider hub. Using high-tensile tie rods and adjustable clevis ends, we created a tensioning system that pulled the structure together, eliminating flex and securing the spire against wind loading.
Se also the restoration of the copper candles
Four Way Spider Hub
Engineered to secure a historic church spire, this bespoke four-way stainless steel hub utilises clevis ends bolted through the central post to create a high-strength pulling point for the structural tie rods.
