Abstract: A surge arrester comprising a stack of a plurality of cylindrical varistor blocks (10), preferably made of metal oxide, which are arranged one after the other in the axial direction of the varistor blocks between an upper end electrode (11) and a lower end electrode (12) and surrounded by an elongated, electrically insulating external casing (19) of rubber or other polymeric material. The end electrodes (11, 12) are interconnected by means of at least three clamping members (15) of insulating material to achieve the required contact pressure between the different elements (10-14) in the stack. Between the lower end electrode (12) and the first block (10) in the stack of varistors, there is arranged a pivot means comprising a centrally placed pivot member (17), projecting from the lower end electrode (12), said pivot member (17) making contact with a pressure plate (14), resting against the lowermost block (10) in the stack of varistors, to achieve articulation in all transverse directions.