Lightning Rod Conference. Various
to be in such a precarious condition that a single blow with a hammer on one small stone would have endangered the whole.
Previous injuries.—On October 19th, 1843, at 10 p.m., the S.E. pinnacle (B) was completely torn down, and two courses of stones just beneath it were greatly damaged. The line of action of the current was to the north-east edge of the tower, towards the leaden gutter, between the nave and north aisle, over this it threw out a great block of granite; from that point it passed along the leaden gutter and across the roof at the north aisle, to a strong iron bar running vertically down the third out of the four north windows; this window was considerably damaged, and still bears marks of rough usage; how it happened that two other windows near the tower, and similarly fitted up with iron bars, were passed untouched is a mystery; to some extent all the windows in the church were somewhat damaged, the framework being of wood they were much shaken, and partially separated from the masonry. This was probably caused by the effect of the current upon the air in the building: the direction of the damage being due to the outward pressure.
In 1812 the north-east pinnacle was struck, and also some little time before 1688, as there is a stone engraved with that date upon it, and the date of the tower is the close of the fifteenth century.
The dates of these misfortunes have been as follows:—
About 1688 N.E. pinnacle.
1812 N.E. pinnacle.
1843 S.E. pinnacle.
1865 S.W. pinnacle.
1878 S.W. pinnacle.
The north-west pinnacle appears to have escaped, and it stands just over the tower stairs. The south-east pinnacle, which was struck in 1843, was at that time surmounted by a weathercock.
There never has been a lightning conductor to any part of the church.
One word further. I have been the holder of the benefice since the autumn of 1876; last summer the specifications for the complete restoration of the church, at a cost of £2000, were sent to me by the architect; before forwarding the same to the Bishop of the Diocese I supplied the omission of a lightning rod in the specification.
Meteorological Notes.—It is a noteworthy fact that on each occasion during this century when a pinnacle has been struck, the season has been between November and March, with one electrical discharge during the storm. It is also remarkable (an experience founded certainly on only two summers, but during that time the rule has been invariable) that all round the neighbourhood summer thunderstorms may be passing in their usual fitful manner of storm and sunshine, but immediately a summer thunderstorm passes over this village there is a complete break in the weather for eight or ten days.
Rainfall.—1877: 49·11 in., 213 wet days; 1878: 48·03 in., 212 wet days.
3. Baker, A. J. Rosherville Church, near Gravesend.—The west gable of the south aisle was struck by lightning, although close to the tower and spire which were provided with a lightning conductor, and received no injury.
5. D. Brandon. St. Ann’s Hotel, Buxton.—In 1875 a chimney-stack was shattered by lightning, the concussion in the flue drove fire and smoke into the drawing-room, displaced the mantle-piece, and broke many panes of glass. The hotel occupies half a crescent, the stack being in the middle of the crescent. The building had no lightning conductor, and there were no trees nearer than five or six hundred feet.
7. J. Colson. Twyford Moors, near Winchester.—Struck by lightning in June, 1878. This building (of which a plan is given) was provided with one lightning conductor fixed to the tower. The upper terminal branched into five points, about four feet above tower roof; the conductor, which was ⅜-inch copper wire-rope, was attached to the upper part of the tower, with glass insulators, and in the middle nailed to the wall through lead flashing, then carried down rain-water pipe into cesspit. The point of the building struck by the lightning was distant about sixty-four feet horizontally and sixteen feet vertically from the upper terminal of the conductor. Damage done was very slight, tiles and laths being knocked off, but no sign of scorching. The conductor was not injured; there are no trees near the building.
| C | Conductor. |
| * | Point struck. |
| P | Rain-water pipes attached to iron gutters. |
7a. St. James’ Church, West End, Hants.—Struck by lightning at 5 p.m., on June 12th, 1875. The church stands on the top of a hill with many trees near, it is built of brick with a lead ridge to roof, iron and lead gutters, iron rain-water pipes P, and two iron chimneys. The spire is of brick, with stone angles fixed by iron cramps; the spire was finished by an iron bar at the top, but was not provided with a lightning conductor. The damage done to the spire was considerable, as shewn in the engraving, making it necessary to pull it down, but the tower was not injured. Stones from the spire were thrown through the trees at B, which are 126 feet distant from the church, cutting off some of the boughs. The tree at A was untouched.
St. James Church, West End, Hants.
12. T. Hawksley. Several Steam Chimneys not provided with lightning conductors; upper portions knocked down, chimney split or often skinned by the lightning, i.e., the four and a half inches of brickwork taken off; details not given. Now uses Gray’s system of lightning conductors for such buildings, which is found successful.
13. A. Hill. In South Africa houses are generally roofed with corrugated iron, and protected from lightning by planting a circle of high trees round them.
14. G. J. Hine. All Saints’ Church, Nottingham.—Struck about twelve years ago; tower and spire 150 feet high, with one conductor of half-inch copper wire-rope, with platinum terminal, and secured by insulated brackets, but earth contact only two feet long at time of accident the rest having been stolen. The lightning passed down the conductor till within six feet from the ground, where it passed through a wall of solid masonry four feet six inches thick, displacing some of the stones, to an inch-iron gas pipe inside the church. In passing off along the gas pipes under the floor, it so far disarranged them as to cause a considerable leakage of gas, which was set fire to by a candle some hours after the accident and exploded. There were no trees, only a few shrubs near.
16. J. Jerman. Alphington Church, near Exeter.—Tower struck about March, 1828; the church had no lightning conductor. The tower was rent through the masonry vertically, damaging parapet and ungearing and injuring bells, which were being rung at the time; one ringer was killed, and some of the others had the heel-plates melted off their boots. There are few trees of any size near the tower, which surmounts all adjacent buildings; it had pinnacles and a weathercock on the top, and a lead roof with spouts, no down pipe. Very few casualties from lightning occur in Devonshire.
18. E. J. Law.—The tower, surmounted by a cast iron vane, of a house built under my superintendence, was struck; the slates stripped from the roof, and the charge apparently escaped down the rain-water pipe; it divided, however, and passed to an adjoining ridge, chipped a piece off the iron cresting and hurled it some twenty yards from the building. Lightning conductor ordered, but not erected; cast iron ridges to all the roofs. Large infirmary within two hundred yards and high church tower within three hundred yards, and houses nearer, of equal height to the one struck, and with cast iron crestings, none of these were injured.
18a. St. Sepulchre’s Church, Northampton.—Vane on top of spire struck by lightning, passed down the rod, then to frame of one of the spire windows, and thence to clock face, from clock face it passed down the gas pipe, leaving no further trace.
19. T. Hayter Lewis. Lewisham,