STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

[Stanley]

Olympic Mill at Rochdale in 1980.

[Stanley]

State Mill Rochdale in 1979.

[Bodger]

Pre war demolition
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/cryst ... uery/steel

[Stanley]

Astley Deep Pit in 1925.

[Stanley]

Norman Sutcliffe and his favourite machine in 1987 at Ripponden.

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Stott's drawing of the Ellenroad stack, 1891.

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An N&R demolition job at Rishworth in 1987. The mill had been used for housing battery hens and the smell was intense!

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Every now and again Norman Sutcliffe's accountant told him they had to spend money on new plant to reduce the tax bill. In 1989, just before Norman died, they bought this rubble crusher seen here at Portsmouth mill Todmorden.

[Invernahaille]

Interesting drawing of Ellenroad stack. You can see the courses taper off as it increases in height.

[Stanley]

Robert, there's a good book on the web. 'Tall Chimney Construction' 1885 by Bancroft. It's an American publication but contains many British stacks. It's free to download and contains some interesting information. LINK

[Stanley]

Tripped over this pic this morning. Who is it and where was he?

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Bosun's chairs on Ellenroad stack in 1991. It was a windy day and eventually the lads had to give up.

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Peter Tatham always reckoned his old leather jerkin was the best wind gauge. When it started flapping he knew it was time to come down. Note the old ladder lashing used as a belt.

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

Chimney builders recognised that the most vulnerable part of a stack was the top and so they used all sorts of materials to make them as durable as possible. Bancroft was terra cotta and here it is after Peter Tatham had refurbished it.

[Invernahaille]

I would'nt want to stand on that after it had been raining!

[Stanley]

Dead right Robert but it shed the water and dried quickly, probably why it survived better than the rim.



The chimney top in 1981 before Peter breathed on it.

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Woodhouse mill chimney before Peter took the brick extension off it.

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Crow Nest chimney in Barlick in 1978 before the venturi was added. It was a well-proportioned stack.

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From Walter Pickles' book, 'Grimy Heritage'.

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A bit of old technology here, Tom Philips on Ellenroad stack in 1986. We had decided to put a restraining band around the top layer of stones that was left on the oversiller when the drum had been taken off as they were not firm and we wanted to make sure it was sound before we started to put more weight on with the new drum. The band wasn't to be tight, it was made to be loose and sit on copper pegs, ready if there was any movement. It's old technology because Young Tom is drilling 1" holes for the pegs using the old fashioned way of star drill and hammer.

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Brooke Edgeley jacks laddering Ellenroad in 1987. Yorkshire ladders of course. They could ladder the 230ft stack in about three hours.

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Peter Tatham laddering Salford Destructor chimney in 1976. He is using the 'Lancashire' system of course which is closer to the surface and relies on rope lashing.

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Sough Bridge mill chimney near Earby before demolition. Another chimney that had to be extended to burn Ingleton coal.

[Stanley]