Illustrated Dictionary of British Churches - Spire Definition

History and Architecture

Spire

A tapering structure on top of a church tower, usually conical or pyramidal in shape. The word comes from the old Saxon word for spear, and certainly a very slender spire might be tought to resemble a spear. One variant is a broach spire, with the spire set atop a square tower. The spire is often topped by a weather vane, flag, or cross.

Related: Broach Spire  




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This exhibition hall was built to serve as the centrepiece for the Great Exhibition of 1851



14 May, 1219

Death of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke

Marshall was widely regarded as the ideal of a medieval knight; he ruled England during Henry III's minority

This king married Matilda, daughter of Malcolm III of Scotland



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