CLASSIC DIVE BOOKS William Walker ...... the man who
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HOMEPAGE |
THE WINCHESTER DIVER
Subtitle: The Saving of a Great Cathedral Ian T Henderson and John Crook Published by: Henderson & Stirk, Crawley, UK in 1984. Illustrated card cover (as reviewed); 128 printed pages. (Also published in hard back with dust jacket). Dimensions: 23 cms tall by 18 cms wide In the early 1900’s, the Cathedral in Winchester, Engalnd, was in danger of collapsing because it was built on un underground river. Engineers were called in to underpin the Cathedral but it proved impossible to keep the drifts under the walls dry. The consulting engineer, Francis Fox, had the idea of employing a diver to do the work and William Walker was employed from the company of Siebe Gorman. Initially there were two diver employees, the second being Edward Rayfield, but it was found that only one diver was needed and William Walker was best suited for the job. He worked at the Cathedral from 1906 to 1911 and this books tells the story as it was seen at the time in 1984. The book is divided into 5 chapters: 1 Winchester Cathedral 1079-1905, A brief History. 2 A crippled Cathedral. 3 Diving (Under-pinning). 4 The Years of Uncertainty 1906-1908. 5 Progress and Completion 1908-1912. It is estimated that Walker laid 25,000 bags of concrete, 115,000 concrete blocks and 900,000 bricks. For his efforts, William Walker was awarded a silver salvor and made a member of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) by King Geirge V at a service on St Swithuns Day in the Cathedral in 1912. Sadly William Walker died as a result of the flu epedemic in 1918 but as a mark of respect for the work he did, there are two statues in the likeness of William Walker in the Cathedral, one inside the building itself, the second outside the Cathedral shop. Note: The BBC made a TV program about William Walker in their series Cathedral. [pt] PS comment: What a fascinating and unique achievement. I guess 'salvage' does not have to be restricted to ships! |
1979 edition. 1994 edition. 2005 edition. |
THREE BOOKLETS
The latest edition generally available from Winchester Cathedral. WILLIAM WALKER - THE DIVER
WHO SAVED A CATHEDRAL
WILLIAM WALKER - THE DIVER
WHO SAVED A CATHEDRAL
WILLIAM WALKER - THE DIVER
WHO SAVED A CATHEDRAL
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WILLIAM WALKER - WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL MEMORABILIA |
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Pamphlets and postcards commemmorating the restoration of Winchester Cathedral. See also the book, The Winchester Diver. From left: An A5 coloured handout advertising the Summewr Exhibition over the St.Swithuns Festival peiod in July each year. Next is an A4 tri-fold brochure providing 'walk-through' details for visitors to the cathedral. Then we have two postcards, the first of William Walker and assistant, a reproduction of the postacrd issued not long after the completion of the restoration; and a more recent modern composite postcard showing William Walker again, and a contemporary diagram of a drift showing the cramped conditions under which he worked. Diver Walker was instrumental in saving the historic Winchester Cathedral, which was gradually subsiding and developing huge cracks. This required a complete 're-stumping' of the huge building - but it was built on a peat base within the surrounding water table. To stabilize the building, it required digging down to the gravel base below the peat, and building up a new foundation with cement and bricks. But as the peat in the 'drifts' (the diggings) was removed, water filled the hole. Only a diver could do the job, and William Walker did this with skill and industry. He is fondly remembered as the diver who saved a cathedral. He is remembered each year at the Festival of St. Swithuns, on 15th July. His statue is at the cathedral, no doubt one of the very few statues to the working man. |
GENERAL TITLES
No doubt there are several books on British cathedrals that mention Winchester's diver. |
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