You need two cranes....
The base of the spire had to be assembled upside down. It had to be lifted right way up before being hoisted into its position on the roof of the Cathedral. Two cranes were required. For larger images click on the thumbnail images.

A menacing looking piece.
The fins and the spire base together looked rather like a small missile. Here is the head on view as it was being lifted to enable further preparatory work to be completed prior to the final hoist.

High level workmanship
Much of the work had to be completed using a 'cherrypicker'.

High level view of high level work.
A high level view of high level work - from the Sir Donald Murray choir room.

Steady as it goes
Steady as it goes : turning the base of the spire of Hope into the correct vertical position.

And onwards
And onwards into the vertical plane.

Difficult work
Difficult work attaching slings and ensuring all items are in their proper location.

Man power
Computer design and hi tech - it did boil down to man power and a sledge hammer to remove a fitting which had served its purpose.

Off with the wrapping
Gary Dudley, site manager, says - off with the wrapping and lets see what is inside. Architects Robert and Colin want to polish their design.

Bill and Ben
Ken Patterson, project manager and the Dean give a last hands on blessing prior to the lift to the roof and hopefully a permanent location above the choir.

Upwards
We have lift off.

Blue sky up above
There was plenty of blue sky as the Spire rose into the heavens.

Over the rooftop
The Spire base was moved over the rooftop and the green shelter from which the roof had been removed for the day.

And down again
The Spire is lowered down through the temporary shelter on the roof of the Cathedral into its permanent location. The roof of the shelter then had to be replaced to cover the large hole in the Cathedral roof.

Spot on
Colin Conn of Box Architects and Robert Jamison check that the location of the fins at each corner are spot on. They wer. The massive component had been placed directly on the pencil lines drawn on the girders. Now for the bigger section in ten days time - weather permitting.