Struck by Lightning

In September last year, just after a major restoration of the roof had been completed, the eastern spire of Saint Ours church in Loches was struck by lightning and damaged to the point where the authorities were worried falling masonry would damage neighbouring buildings.

The adjoining public garden and restaurant, and a couple of private homes were put out of bounds. Due to the awkward position of the apse and tower, on the edge of a cliff, inside a walled citadel with a narrow medieval gate, the scaffolding was helicoptered into the garden, then slowly erected. It has just been completed, and the damage on the spire marked up in yellow, ready for the roofers to come in and do the repairs.

 

The scaffolders gave me a cheery wave as they squeezed their truck through the 12th century gateway at the entrance to the Royal Citadel and left for lunch.