VARIOUS SHOTS OF ST. PAUL'S WITH SCAFFOLDING UP, AND VIEW FROM TOP OF CATHEDRAL.




Initials DE/V/MGT/JM



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Background: VISITORS TO LONDON THIS SUMMER MAY BE DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS - THE DOME OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL - IS HIDDEN FROM THEIR VIEW BY SCAFFOLDING. IN FACT, IF THEY'VE COME TO LONDON ESPECIALLY TO SEE THE FAMOUS DOME, THEY COULD HAVE COME ANY TIME IN THE PAST 225 YEARS AND FOUND IT SILHOUETTED AGAINST THE SKY. BUT NOW, THE CITY ALDERMEN HAVE DECIDED IT'S TIME IT WAS CLEANED.

THE SCAFFOLDING IS ALSO AFFORDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER HOW MUCH DAMAGE THE DOME SUSTAINED DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED SHRAPNEL HOLES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCOVERED THERE.

THE VIEW FROM ST. PAUL'S IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN LONDON. A POPULAR VANTAGE POINT IS THE GOLDEN GALLEY - ATOP THE DOME--FROM WHERE THE WHOLE OF CENTRAL LONDON CAN BE SEEN AT ONE GLANCE.

SOME CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED BY THE SIZE OF THE BUILDINGS WHICH HAVE BEEN ERECTED CLOSE TO THE CATHEDRAL. BUT FROM THE DOME EVEN THESE SEEM SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT. AND DESPITE THE WORRIES OF SOME PEOPLE, ST. PAUL'S STILL TOWERS MAJESTICALLY ABOVE FLEET STREET AT THE TOP OF LUDGATE HILL - AND THE NEW BUILDINGS HAVE ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY REDUCED THE FAMOUS VIEW.

THE OPERATION OF CLEANING AND SURVEYING THE DOME IS COSTING GBP150,000.