April - The Fall of the West Tower

Hereford Cathedral - before the collapse.

The tower fell on Easter Monday April 17^th, 1786. This must have been a cataclysmic event at the time but is largely forgotten now. 

"On Easter Monday, 1786, the greatest disaster in the history of the cathedral took place. The west tower fell, creating a ruin of the whole of the west front and at least one part of the nave."

Extracts from the Hereford Journal April 20^th 1786:

“About nine days ago a small part of the stone work of the inside roof , under the WEST TOWER of the CATHEDRAL CHURCH, in this city, fell and continued to do so, till last Monday afternoon between six and seven o’clock, at which time all that beautiful and magnificent structure fell down, and with it part of the body of the Church.”

“No person received any hurt…”

“No other buildings nearby except the Music Room.”

“There was a great number of people in the Church-Yard, it being a remarkably fine day.”

“The ruins, though awful, afford a pleasing view, especially to behold the statues of Kings and Bishops resting one upon another.  At our fair yesterday, lean oxen sold well, and fat cattle at a dear price.”

I love the way that the writer segues between the drama of the collapse and the mundane detail of the cattle fair!   Some excellent writing came out of this.   

A drawing of the ruins by 

James Wathen 1751-1828

Known as "Jemmy Sketch", Wathen was a celebrated traveller, writer and sketcher. He was born in Hereford where he later had a glover’s business. When he retired, he travelled widely in the British Isles, Europe, India and China, producing an illustrated account of his travels. He also produced many sketches of Herefordshire.

So that we didn't get too glum we also read one of the worst poems written in English:

William Topaz McGonagall, poet and tragedian of Dundee, has been widely hailed as the writer of the worst poetry in the English language. A self-educated hand loom weaver from Dundee, he discovered his discordant muse in 1877 and embarked upon a 25 year career as a working poet, delighting and appalling audiences across Scotland and beyond.

His audiences threw rotten fish at him, the authorities banned his performances, and he died a pauper over a century ago. But his books remain in print to this day, and he’s remembered and quoted long after more talented contemporaries have been forgotten.

The Tay Bridge Disaster

Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv’ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember’d for a very long time.

There are yards more like this and if you want more William Topaz has his own website!

It is surprisingly hard to write such a very bad poem - many writers found that the instinct to create rhyme and scan properly was very hard to suppress but they did wonderfully badly and much joy resulted from their efforts.

I'd like to thank the staff of the Museum Resource & Learning Centre in Friar's Street (especially Catherine) for helping me with research tips and for fetching up various pictures to the learning room.  Also the staff at the Cathedral's Working Library and the City Library who willingly dug out all sorts of stuff for me.  People said it was a great morning.