Liverpool Cathedral lowered its chandeliers for their yearly maintenance checks this week.
The great cast iron light fixtures descended from the domed ceiling slowly, the process of checking all of them lasting between four and seven hours.
Lowered down by a drill and hand-turned winch, the chandeliers rested on large wooden stands as the Cathedral’s crew looked them over.
Keith Pearson, clerk of works at Liverpool Cathedral, told MerseyNewsLive: “It takes a team of minimum of three guys up top, two guys downstairs.
“There’s a winch which is hand operated, that lowers the chain down.”
The crew check and replace the light bulbs, examine the chandeliers for general wear and tear, and inspect the chain links for any damage.
The chandeliers weigh 965kg each and were installed in 1924 by the glassmaking and metalworking company, Osler & Faraday Limited.
Other Liverpool sites that have housed an Osler chandelier include St. George’s Hall.
The chandelier underwent restoration work in 2005 and was installed in the concert hall.
The chandelier itself does not hang from a single chain. Instead, it is suspended by many to distribute the weight and prevent risk of damage and injury.
The checks are required to be carried out yearly for insurance and safety purposes.
Any damage to their structure could mean a serious and potentially life-threatening risk, due to their placement hanging above the congregation.
However, maintenance checks are not the only act carried out with the Cathedral’s visitors in mind.
Originally using an amber shaded bulb, the chandeliers and most of the cathedral have switched to LED lighting.
The switch was made to improve lighting while reading hymns, Keith said.
