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I'm sure that other teenagers have also scaled it's lofty heights, although I'd be surprised to hear of a similar party taking place. I did actually attempt it once again a few weeks later with my two best friends. Unfortunately we were caught by the police just after we'd begun our climb and, as a result, we ended up having to spend that night camping downwind of a sewage treatment plant...

European Tales: Camping on the roof of Hereford Cathedral tower

Joseph Tame
2006-06-30 17:31:11

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www.tamegoeswild.com

It was during my rebellious months at Hereford Sixth Form College that I heard an old legend. This legend told a brave tale of a valiant knight who scaled the lofty heights of Hereford Cathedral Tower in order to rescue his Princess.

This captured my imagination, and so not two weeks later everything was in place to carry out a daring plan.

Sarah, Tom and myself looked up from the ground at the huge Hereford Cathedral that stood before us. For some months it had been undergoing extensive restoration work as the ancient stone blocks were crumbling under the stress of life in the 20th century.

Because of this, scaffolding rose from the ground to envelope one corner of the tower above: unfortunately the only way to reach it was over a 3 metre wooden fence which has a healthy dose of coiled barbed wire running along the top.

Picturing the fence as the society that was trying to impose its rules upon as young adults, we took great pleasure in throwing our huge rucksacks over and then one by one climbing it with the aid of an adjacent wall and six very sticky shoes. It was quite a painful procedure as the barbs bit deeply, but it was a necessary part of the adventure.

Next was one of the most stressful parts - getting onto the first roof. The only way up was via the workmen's lift. This consisted of a narrow steel beam up which a small petrol-powered platform would climb. Keeping as quiet as possible, two of us began the slow, painfully stressful climb, which was made all the more difficult as our "ladder" was covered in thick black grease. If we were going to be seen it would be at this point as we were still pretty close to the ground, and there was a perfect view from Church Street below of the section up which we were climbing. By the time we reached the top we were absolutely filthy and pretty tired, but the adrenaline was pumping and ...