A church in Lincolnshire that leans more than the Tower of Pisa requires over £100,000 in repairs to fix its uneven floor. The tower of St James’ Church in Dry Doddington leans at an angle of 5.1 degrees, compared to the Italian landmark’s 3.97-degree tilt.
The Grade II-listed building, originally built as a “Chapel of Ease” in the 12th century, later became its own parish church. Its 14th-century tower is estimated to have first shifted in the late 19th or early 20th century.
Church warden Richard Loynes said the wooden floor has deteriorated and stone slabs have shifted, making the tower precarious again. Eleven years ago, £100,000 was spent to restore the tower after it was in danger of collapsing due to eroding stones.
“We need to replace the very old floor in our 14th-century church which has the famous tower that leans more than Pisa!” Loynes wrote on an online fundraising page. He added that funds are needed to replaster walls and upgrade the electrical system, which currently has only one plug socket.
The church also contains a memorial to the 49 Squadron Avro Lancaster bomber that crashed near the village in November 1944.
