Story: Historic earthquakes

Damaged spire, Christchurch Cathedral

Damaged spire, Christchurch Cathedral

Looking from the south, this view of Christchurch Cathedral shows the damage after the top 7.8 metres of the stone spire toppled in the 1888 earthquake. It was repaired, but the top 1.5 metres fell off again in an earthquake in 1901, and it was later remodelled in hardwood sheathed in copper.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-7985-72

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, 'Historic earthquakes - The 1888 North Canterbury earthquake', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4490/damaged-spire-christchurch-cathedral (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 28 Mar 2011, updated 1 Nov 2017