Wren Steps Vacuum Lifted At St Paul’s Cathedral

The Wates Group have delicately lifted the 16 remaining stone steps laid under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren at the west entrance to St Paul’s Cathedral. The 17th century steps have been lifted to allow their foundations to be re-laid as part of large-scale internal and external restoration work in time for the 300th anniversary of the Cathedral in 2008.

With the steps lying directly over the Cathedral’s vaults and each weighing between 200 and 400 kilograms minimising any damage was a priority. Initially the steps were loosened by hand using bars and levers before an innovative suction plate on the end of a crane was used to vacuum up the steps. It is likely that the steps will be re-laid in October.

Source: Wates Group