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Engineers check Lincoln Cathedral's lightning protection system

Two engineers have carried out checks on the lightning protection system at Lincoln Cathedral, working at 271ft (83m) above the city.

  • Mateusz Pierwola and Neil Fillery from Dawson Steeplejacks checked the lightning protection system at Lincoln Cathedral.
  • The engineers worked at the highest point of the central tower's four pinnacles, 271ft (83m) above the city.
  • The lightning protection system for the central tower pinnacles is checked every 10 years.

Engineers Mateusz Pierwola and Neil Fillery have completed checks on the lightning protection system at Lincoln Cathedral. The pair ascended to the highest point of the central tower's four pinnacles, reaching 271ft (83m) above the city.

Mr Fillery, a lightning protection engineer, and Mr Pierwola, a steeplejack, work for Dawson Steeplejacks, a company that has maintained the cathedral's lightning protection since 2007. They climbed 338 steps to the central tower before using ladders, helmets, and rope access harnesses to reach the pinnacles.

During their work, the engineers tested the air terminals of the lightning protection system, ensuring connections between metal components and conductors were functioning. Ed Atherton, the cathedral's facilities manager, highlighted the importance of the system for historic buildings, citing the 1984 lightning strike that caused a fire at York Minster.

While lower levels of the cathedral are checked annually, the lightning protection system for the central tower pinnacles is inspected every 10 years.

Why this matters: Lightning protection systems are crucial for historic buildings like Lincoln Cathedral to prevent damage from lightning strikes, as demonstrated by the 1984 fire at York Minster.

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