Louth, Lincolnshire dominated by St James' Church, Louth, the spire. A recent survey has confirmed the height of the stonework as and to the top of the cockerel weather vane as . It also confirms it as one of the very finest medieval steeples in the country Though shorter than both Norwich Cathedral , and Salisbury Cathedral , in terms of spire height it is the tallest medieval parish church in the United Kingdom. The building of the spire commenced in 1501 and was finally completed in 1515. In 2015 came a remarkable discovery from the adjoining Rectory garden in the form
Spire is one of the tallest of the period anywhere in the world. A similar but slightly smaller spire was built at Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England, which indicates the popularity of the spire spreading across the country during this period. We will never know the true popularity of the medieval spire, as many more collapsed within a few years of building than ever survived to be recorded. In the United Kingdom spires generally tend to be reserved for ecclesiastical building, with the exception to this rule being the spire at Burghley House, built for Elizabeth I's Lord Chancellor in 1585.