The Lochnagar Crater Cross Appeal

The original Cross was erected in 1986. Made from ancient pine rescued from a deconsecrated church in northumberland, it was struck by lightning soon after it was erected. It did well to last until 2010 and was replaced in 2011.

: The Cross as it was in July 2009

: What remains following the fall of the cross on 29th/30th August 2010

The original cross was installed in 1986, made from wood from a deconsecrated northumberland church. It suffered a lightning strike fairly soon after, and had to be held together with metal clamps. But after 24 years it finally succumbed to its wounds and in August 2010 it was blown over and broke into several pieces.

The Rotten Wood Of The Cross 2010

The original Cross, over 20 feet in total length, was secured by some 6 feet of it being located below ground, encased by a metal frame and held in place by several tons of concrete.

The wood for the new Cross is new green English oak supplied by wood merchant Job Earnshaw.

: The bolts that anchor the steel sleeve that hold the new Cross. © 2011 Vinny Felstead

: Vinny and Brian Gibson installing the metal sleeve that holds the new Cross. © 2011 Vinny Felstead

: Vinny preparing the shuttering for the concrete that hides the metal sleeve for the new base. © 2011 Vinny Felstead

: Vinny testing the joint of the new Cross at Job Earnshaw’s wood yard, near Wakefield. © 2011 Vinny Felstead

The new Cross is held in place by a specially made steel sleeve bolted to the old concrete base.

Transporting the new Cross to France was no easy task as you will see if you read Warren Osborne’s article.

The task of lifting the huge weight of the new cross high enough for it to slip into the metal sleeve was not as easy as it might sound.

At this point we must express enormous gratitude to our French friends who very generously loaned the hydraulic JCB equipment (with driver!), that was able to lift the Cross sufficiently to allow it to fit into the sleeve.