St. Mary's
The crooked steeple of Cleobury Mortimer
Imagine Pisa without its leaning tower. Here it is the twisted spire of St. Mary’s. The church originally dates from the 12th century and has a 16th century octagonal wooden spire which over time has gained its twisted appearance.
The interior is not for those of nervous disposition with Betjemen observing: “The whole church seems to have slipped out of shape. Inside there isn’t a straight arch or doorway.” The church guide explains: “A prominent feature is the leaning of the walls and pillars, probably resulting from a combination of a badly tied roof at one period and ground movement” but local hero Thomas Telford, one of England’s most famous engineers, stabilised the building in 1790.