The Edmondson Blog

The 228ft spire of the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield is both twisted 45 degrees and and leans over southwards by over nine feet. It moves a little further every year, but it is still a long way from falling over. Built around 1400, it was straight for a number of centuries before it began to twist, probably as a result of the original wooden shingles being replaced by much heavier lead and slates.

However, local tradition maintains that the spire was so shocked to learn of the marriage of a virgin in the church that it bent down to get a closer look. Should that happen again, it is said that the spire will straighten and return to its true position.