THE SPIRE

At the heart of the International Bomber Command Centre are the Memorial Spire and Walls of Names.

The Spire commands stunning views across Lincoln, with a focus on the City’s ancient Cathedral, which served as a sighting point for crews flying from Lincolnshire. For many of the men named on the accompanying walls, the Cathedral provided their last sight of Britain.

Designed by Stephen Palmer of Place Architecture, the steel structure was manufactured by S H Structures, based in North Yorkshire.  The Spire was delivered, under Police escort, to the site on 10th May 2015, on two low loaders, measuring 25m each!  Once on site the team were able to erect it and weld the key joints in less than 8 hours.  You can watch the film taken on the day here

The Spire was officially unveiled on the 2nd October 2015 with an invited audience of 2,000 guests including 312 veterans and their families.  Many of the countries involved were also represented by their attaches or ambassadors.

  • Officially unveiled October 2015 with an audience of 3,000 including 312 Bomber Command veterans
  • Made from Corten A weathering steel – the same as the Angel of the North
  • 102ft (31.09m) high, the wingspan of the Avro Lancaster bomber

  • 16ft (5m) wide at the base, the width of a Lancaster wing
  • The Spire weighs 73 tons and is founded 2m underground
  • It is lit at night, creating a focus on the Lincoln skyline

Next: The Walls of Names