STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Most of the very high brick stacks at chemical works were for the same purpose, getting noxious fumes well away from built up areas to avoid problems with the local authorities. But it had to eventually drop somewhere. In the latter days of Ribble Cement at Clitheroe when they were burning the cheap industrial waste solvent fuel 'Chemfuel' they got a lot of flak when there was an inversion layer in the valley. Many complaints about the smell and the effect on washing hung out to dry. This was one of the things that Persuaded my daughter Margaret and her husband Mick to migrate to Oz. There were suspicions that the plume contained dioxins but this was never proved despite a lot of air sampling by the environmental authorities. There used to be many complaints about acid rain damaging pasture land in the lee of the major power stations but improved scrubbing of the gases seems to have mitigated this. I haven't heard it mentioned for years. The exterior metal stack on the outside of the stack at Blythe Chemicals which carried steam away from the acid plant put out a plume 24X7 apart from the annual holidays and I often wondered what nasties it contained.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Image

The stack at Blythe Chemicals ready for dropping. I think Young Tom posted this pic.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Image

'Tennant's Stalk' at Glasgow. Built that high to get noxious gases clear of the conurbation. 460 feet high, brick built.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Image

Click to enlarge. The last stages of the demolition of Tennant's giant chimney at Springburn. This was in about 1920 and reports at the time said that four men died during the demolition.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
piranha230
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Oct 2013, 16:41

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by piranha230 »

Does anyone have any information about who did the chimney demolition of the wye no1 and wye no2 mills in Shaw Oldham in 1975 ?.
I know from photo,s on facebook they were done by explosives and it was wye no2 mill chimney that was dropped 1st then wye no1 a few weeks later.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
piranha230
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Oct 2013, 16:41

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by piranha230 »

This pic is wye no1.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
piranha230
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Oct 2013, 16:41

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by piranha230 »

They were quite unique as wye no1 was built in 1914 and wye no2 in 1925 the mills were only 3 floors high which is unusual for a cotton mill. and the mills were both demolished in 1974.
wye was the last mill built in shaw.
notice how the chimneys both are as original when they were dropped ie. no iron bands on them.
on this pic wye no2 is the closest with its drained lodge , wye no1 is in the background and hawk mill is on the right, notice how the hawk chimney has had its top removed by 1972.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Invernahaille
Donor
Posts: 219
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 17:43

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Invernahaille »

Blaster Bates?
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Image

I don't know for sure but Mervin Simpson of Simpson Brothers (Explosives) Heywood is the most likely candidate. Here he is in 1991 dropping Dee Mill Chimney.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

I've been reading my Bancroft on Tall Chimney Construction and must give some time to posting some of it. If you've never seen it it is on the web and well worth a look at.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Click to enlarge

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Tripps
VIP Member
Posts: 8779
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 14:56

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Tripps »

I just checked out this book. I can only see one copy of the original 1885 first edition. It's published as an E book - but I like to see the original.

It can be yours for just £275 + P&P, from a dealer in Altrincham.
Born to be mild
Sapere Aude
Ego Lego
Preferred pronouns - Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine
My non-working days are Monday - Sunday
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

I downloaded mine from the web and printed it out. Best book I know on tall structures, full of interesting facts like chimney failures and straightening crooked ones. I have some more interesting excepts to post... Must do it! (But this time I'll copy on the old IBM, better quality....)
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

I had a furtle in the hard drive and found I had already transcribed some interesting stuff.....


MESSRS. TENNANT & Co.'s CHIMNEY, ST. ROLLOX, GLASGOW.

The chimney shaft of Messrs. Charles Tennant Co., St. Rollox Chemical
Works, Glasgow, was projected by Professor W. J. MACQUORN RANKINE; designed by Messrs. L. D. B. GORDON and L. HILL, and built by Mr. MCINTYRE.

Dimensions,
Total height from bottom of foundation to top of coping . . 453 ½ '
Height from ground line to top of coping 435 1.2 ‘
Outside diameter at foundation 50'
Outside diameter at ground line 40'
At top 13’
The height from ground line to top is divided into 5 sections, the thickness of walls varying from 2' 7 ½ " at bottom of shaft to 1' 2" at top, viz. :

Foundation. No piles were used, it being founded on free-stone. The construction of circular foundation of outer cone and the square foundation for inner cone, will be best understood by reference to the diagrams, Figs. 8 and 9, together with Professor Rankine's dimensions given above. The shaft was founded on the site of an old quarry, and the ground on the north side had to be concreted up to level of rock foundation. Pressure at the base of chimney, 450' below summit.
Pressure in lbs. on the sq. ft. and on the sq. in.
On a layer of strong concrete or be beton, 6,670 46
On sandstone below the beton, so soft that it crumbled in the hand 4,000 28
The last example shows the pressure which is safely borne in practice by one of the weakest substances to which the name of rock can be applied.

Bricks. The chimney is built entirely of bricks excepting coping, which is stone. There were used 1,250,000 bricks, weighing 121-lbs. per cubic foot, and resisting 63 tons pressure per super foot before cracking. The bricks were of the first quality, selected and purposely made of a mixture of ironstone and blue clay.

Bond. The bond used in its construction is ‘old English.’ The inner cone is built up of 3 sections, with best bricks, same as main shaft (iron-stone and clay composition) of the following dimensions:
1st section ......... 60' 22|" thick.
2nd ......... 80' 18"
3rd ......... 103' 14"
243' total from ground line. The use of the inner cone was intended to protect the principal stalk at base from the heat and effects of the gases at their entrance into the shaft, but it is now considered to be a mistake.
Height of inner cone from foundation to top ...... ...... 263'
Height of inner cone from ground line to top ...... 243' 43'
Inside diameter at foundation .......... .........…….. 12'
At top ............. 13 ½ '
Mortar. The mortar was made with Arden lime and good sharp river sand.

Building Operations,
Chimney founded 29th June, 1841. Cope laid 29th June, 1842.
A roof was put over the work during the winter months, but was blown down during a gale. The shaft in consequence had to remain uncovered until building operations were resumed. Inside scaffolding was used. Flues are circular and of various lengths, branches extending to all parts of the works, which cover an area of 80 acres.

Iron Hooping. In May, 1844, a rent was discovered in one side about 36' long extending from a point about 100' from the top downwards. This rent is said to have been caused by the heat and gases passing upward between the inner and outer shafts owing to one of the flue connections having become cracked. The rent gradually increased during June and July, and then a similar rent was observed on the other side, beginning somewhat lower down than that first discovered, but extending only 45'. This created some apprehension, and in August it was determined to examine the chimney where the cracks had occurred. Scaffolding appeared at first to be the only means of effecting the examination without stopping the works. Balloons were proposed, but the idea was rejected, though the late Mr. Green offered his personal superintendence of the ascent.
Scaffolding would have cost £20. Mr. Colthurst, C.E., suggested that by driving staples into the joints of the brickwork a man might be able to climb to the top safely and very cheaply. A man was obtained who carried out the suggestion, and actually went up on the outside of a neighboring chimney 112’ high and repaired the coping ; the ascent and work occupying two days. Working upon this suggestion, a climbing machine was devised by Mr. L. Hill for examining the rent at a distance of 2 80' from the ground. On gaining the position of the rent a strong pulley was fixed in the chimney, through which a rope was passed extending to the ground, so that to this point an ascent could be made at any future time. The persons employed were slaters, an old and a young man. It was made a principle not to bribe anyone to undertake the job. The men worked for 5/- a day, or little more than their ordinary wages. Though the fissure was found in one place to be 2" wide, yet the nature of it was such that a rod could not be put through the crack to the inside of the chimney. It would have been very desirable to have inserted a thermometer into the interior, but as the instrument would not pass through the rent it was not thought advisable to drive a hole for the purpose. It may be mentioned, however, that red hot matter has more than once been projected through the top of this high shaft. Thirteen iron hoops were put round the shaft, in consequence of the cracks, by means of the climbing machine above mentioned, the chimney continuing in work the whole time. Additional hoops, making a total of thirty, had to be put round the shaft about 1871, when the chimney was struck by lightning. These additional hoops were put on by Mr. J. Wright, of Aberdeen, who had to fly a kite over the top to commence operations.

Lightning Conductor. Fixed 1872, by Mr. R. Hall. The conductor consists of two glass insulated copper ropes, one on each side of the shaft, connected at the base to a 1 ½ " square iron rod, carried underground through the works till it reaches the canal.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. DOBSON & BARLOW, KAY STREET MACHINE WORKS,
BOLTON, LANCASHIRE.
The large chimney stack here is connected with seven boilers, ventilating flues, furnaces, &c. It was completed in Nov., 1842, and was then intended to serve a chemical works. Shortly after, the ground occupied by the chemical works was added to Messrs. Dobson & Barlow's establishment, and consequently the chimney came into their possession. The following are some principal particulars:
Description. Octagonal, brick.
Dimensions,
Total height from ground level 367' 6"
Girth at bottom 112' o". Each side of octagon at bottom 14' o"
Girth at top 44' o". Each side of octagon at top 5' 6"
Thickness of brickwork at bottom 8' 0", At top 1' 6"
Materials. 800,000 bricks and 120 tons of stone work were
used in the building. The top cornices and mouldings required
30 tons of stone and cement. Cost. £3,000.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. WESENFIELD & Co.'s CHIMNEY, CHEMICAL FACTORY,
BARMEN, PRUSSIA.

Description. Square brick pedestal, octagonal brick shaft.
Dimensions. Total height from foundation to top 345' o"
Height from ground line to top 331' o"
Pedestal 20' sq. X 4' high X 7 bricks 5' 3" thick.
Octagonal shaft 291' high.
Shaft 17' outside diam. at base X 5 bricks . 3' 9" thick.
Shaft at top 11’ diameter X 2 bricks. 1' 6" thick.
Diminution of shaft 2 ½” in diam. every 10'.
Batter 1 in 97.
Internal octagonal clearance 8’ throughout.
Foundation. This is on a bed of hard and coarse gravel and made of large flat quarry stones bedded with "terrass" mortar in the proportions of 1 lime, 1 river sand, and 1 terrass" (a description of pozzuolana).
Pressure on lowest part of chimney proper 21,335lbs. Or 9 tons per square foot.
Pedestal and Shaft. Built with bricks and ordinary mortar, 1 lime to 2 river sand, prepared every morning by the masons. On rainy days cement mortar was used in the proportion of 1 cement to 2 river sand. The courses of brickwork were flushed up with cement as construction proceeded. The crown of the shaft was built with cement exclusively.

Building. The foundation and pedestal were built in the summer of 1867, and the construction of the chimney was successfully completed in October of same year. According to original design it was intended to build to a height of 260', but as the erection was proceeding in a very satisfactory manner it was considered safe to increase the height without altering the dimensions of the base, but before doing so, a comparison was made between the pressure on the foundation of this chimney and the pressure on the foundation of a chimney erected at Bochum, Prussia. It was found to be as follows :
Lowest part of chimney proper.
Press, pr. sq. ft. Press, pr. sq. in.
Chimney at Barmen, Prussia. 21,335-lbs. 149-lbs.
Chimney at Bochum, 18,429lbs 128-lbs.
Excess of pressure on Barmen chimney foundation 2,9o6-lbs. 21-lbs.

The three masons who constructed the chimney daily changed their positions, so as to equalise any unevenness in their respective laying. Every fifty feet a course of brickwork was painted black, so as to indicate the height of any point of the chimney above ground. The chimney was built from the inside. The materials were hoisted by a steam engine erected temporarily near the place
of construction. The frame which supported the upper drum over which the chain worked was moved higher after the completion of every three or four courses, and was at the same time turned horizontally from one side of the octagon to the next one, so as to equalise the pressure of the frame on the masonry. The holes made into the masonry to support the frame were filled up with bricks and mortar immediately after the removal of the frame to a higher level. The chimney when completed (Oct., 1867) was vertical.
In the spring of 1868, remarkable for storms and long-continued gales, this stalk inclined toward the north-east. The action of the south-west wind was probably aided by the softness of the mortar and the large size and shape of the ornamented chimney crown, which caught the wind and acted as on a long lever. The deflection was considerable at the end of May and apparently increased. As before mentioned, layers of bricks in shaft at distances of fifty feet from each other were painted black. The height of these black lines above the pedestal being known, they were, by means of a theodolite, projected on a board, which was fixed on the pedestal, and these projections showed that at

251' high it was out of plumb 45"
210'………….. 30"
160' …………. 16"
110’ ……………5"

The pedestal stood perpendicular. As the canting of the shaft was still increasing, immediate action had to be taken. The ordinary method of straightening chimneys was at first resorted to. A hole was made through the whole thickness of the masonry on side of chimney which required lowering, at a distance of four feet above the top of pedestal ; into this hole a saw was passed, and an attempt was made to cut through one half of the shaft, but owing to thickness of wall and hardness of the bricks the saw could only be worked from one end, and the effect of sawing, after two hours' work, was almost nil. The hole through the stalk having been made with little trouble, and the difficulty experienced in sawing, led to the idea of removing a course of bricks and, re-placing it by a thinner one. Before the work was proceeded with an experiment was made on an old inclined shaft, 120' high. This proving successful, it was determined to treat the new chimney in the same way.

Straightening. A layer of bricks was broken out by means of pointed cast steel bars varying from 1 ½ ft 'to 5' in length. Fig. 10 shows a horizontal section of this layer, the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., indicating the order in which the brickwork was removed. When division 1 was broken out it was replaced by thinner bricks covered with "terrass" mortar. After this the two divisions marked 2 were broken out and replaced by thinner bricks ; then the two divisions marked 3, and so on until one- half of the whole course had been exchanged. Purposely-made flat shovels with long handles were used to lay the bricks, which had to be placed near the inside of the chimney. A side space of 5" was left between the newly-laid bricks and the old ones of the next division, so as to enable the workmen to break out the latter with greater facility. The width of each single division was 2' to 2 ½ feet. The masonry directly above was sufficiently dry not to give way when a course of that width was removed from below it. The replaced bricks were thicker near the points A and C, so that the difference was greater in the middle, and gradually less
toward the extremities A and C. As soon as the slit reached these points the chimney began to move, and by slight oscillations slowly settled down on the
new layer of bricks. The time occupied in settling by oscillation at each
substituted course varied from 1 8 to 36 hours, according to the widths of the slits, which were different in the various cuts performed. The oscillations were the greater the higher the cut. At the highest cut, 100ft. from the top, the oscillations frightened the masons, and they left the work. The slit became
alternately wider and narrower by three-quarters of an inch. This seemed to prove the elasticity of the structure. The four cuts made were as follows :
1st .... 4' above pedestal greatest width . . . . 3/8”
2nd .... 100' above pedestal greatest width ..1 ¼”
3rd .... 140' above pedestal greatest width …1 ½”
4th .... 191' above pedestal greatest width ….1 ¾”

After the completion of this work the chimney continued during several weeks to settle slightly in the direction opposite to its former inclination. This circumstance had to be carefully considered beforehand, or else the slits would have been made too wide, and have produced an inclination in the opposite direction. A severe storm on the 6th and 7th Dec., 1868, which overthrew threw several chimneys in the neighbourhood, did not affect this one. The result of the straightening operation described above was quite satisfactory. The heights of the upper cuts were reached as follows: Standing on a platform the masons made a number of holes into the exterior wall of the chimney 4' above the platform on which they stood. Into these holes the ends of iron bars were fixed, and boards secured to them so as to form another
platform. Standing then on the latter they fixed another platform 4' higher in the same way. Every second platform was removed, so that the remaining ones were 8' apart ; they were then joined by ladders for the workmen to ascend. This method of straightening is only practicable when the chimney has a considerable diameter, and when the mortar is sufficiently dry not to give way under pressure of the bars and platforms.

In Dec., 1868, a chimney was straightened at Duisburg by the method just described, but as the diameter was not so great as that at Barmen, and as the mortar was soft, a wooden scaffold was erected round the shaft to reach the upper points which required cutting. The breaking out and replacing bricks could not be done there in divisions wider than 5 to 10 inches, as the upper masonry not being dry would have settled down. When the chimney was straight a further settling down towards the side of the cuts was prevented by driving iron wedges, covered with mortar, into the slits.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

EDINBURGH GAS WORKS, CHIMNEY.
Designed by Mr. MARK TAYLOR, Engineer to the Company. Mr. GEO. BUCHANNAN, C.E. and Prof. GORDON, of Glasgow, were consulted.
Builders, Stonework . . Mr. JAMES GOWAN, of Edinburgh.
Brickwork . . Mr. JAMES Bow, of Pollocksfields, nr. Glasgow.

Description. Square stone pedestal, circular brick shaft.
Dimensions,
Stone foundation under ground .......... 6 ½ ft
Part of base under ground………........... 6ft
Stone pedestal above ground …........... 65ft
Brick shaft ...............………………………. 264'
Total height from foundation to top ... 341'
Height from ground line to top ........... 329'
Foundation. Stone. 40 ½ ft square x 6 ½ ft deep.

The distributed pressure on the bottom of foundation per square foot = nearly 2 ½ tons.
Pedestal. Stone.
30ft sq. at ground line.
27 ¾ ft square at top.
22 ½ ft internal diameter at bottom.
2o 1/3 ft internal diameter at top.
This was built during the summer, at the end of which the works were suspended until the following year.
Brickwork. Commenced and finished in the summer following the erection of the pedestal.
OUTER BRICK SHAFT (circular).
Outside diam. at bottom ... 26' 3"
Internal diam. at top. …..... 20' 5"
Outside diam. at top ……… 15' o"
Internal diameter at top ... 12' o"

This was built up in five steps as follows :
1st section 35' high. 3 ½ bricks = 35”
2nd section 40' high. 3 bricks = 30”
3rd 48' high. 2 ½ “ = 25”
4th 58' high. 2 bricks = 20”
5th 83' high. 1 ½ bricks = 15”
264ft in total.

The greatest pressure on any part of the work comes at the lowest section, where it amounts to about 8 tons 2 cwt. per square foot.

INNER BRICK SHAFT (circular).
This is distinct from the outer shaft and is 90' high with 13' internal diameter throughout, and was built in four steps, viz. :
1st section 14' high 35" thick. 2nd 6’ high, 30" thick. 3rd 30' high 25" thick.
4th 40' high, 20" thick. 90' total.
The thicknesses include a lining of fire-brick 10" thick for 20', and 5" thick for remaining 70'. Materials. The weight of, is about 3,700 tons. Cost. Total was £4,637. Lightning Conductor. Solid copper rod 5/8" diam.
Stone. The stones used in the foundation are Cragleith, Humbie and Hailes, which before use were tested by Mr. Buchanan and Mr. James Gowan. The tests were made in a most careful way by crushing cubes of 1" square.
RESULTS OF TESTS.
Cragleith .... crushed at 315 tons per sq. ft.
Humbie .... 240 tons
Hailes ………225 tons
A second test of Cragleith showed that before being crushed to powder it sustained a pressure of 440 tons per square foot. The appearance, after fractures of the different cubes, was that of a pyramid or wedge, and this led Mr. Gowan to assert that if the cubes were enlarged a greater increase of strength would be gained, and further, that if the pressure were vertical to the line of cleavage a greater resistance would be obtained, so that such a stone as Hailes, which is a laminated stone, would increase in strength according to its surface more in proportion than that of a liver rock stone such as Cragleith. This led to discussion and further tests, the result being that with a 4" cube
from Hailes quarry the resistance was equal to 567 tons per square
foot.

BRICKS. These were supplied by Mr. Livingstone, of Portobello Brickworks, and were tested with the following results :

[Table follows giving size of bricks as 10”x5x3 weighing 10 ¼ lbs. Crushing weight 153 tons or 440 tons to the square foot.

Repairs. In May, 1874, a "Steeple Jack" was engaged to examine the state of shaft. Recourse was had to kite-flying to fix at top a rope by which the man could draw himself up, to the free end of which a couple of 56-lbs. weights were attached. It was found that the stack near top had been split in several
places by lightning and iron hooping was necessary.

[SG note. In his book, James Wright describes this repair on page 38 but says the shaft was octagonal and describes the difficulty of making and fitting such strengthening bands.]
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Tizer
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 18859
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 19:46
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Tizer »

A different type of steeplejack work shown here...
The National Trust is using ground-penetrating radar on the 174ft (53m) Wellington monument on the Blackdown Hills, in Somerset to see under its stone cladding. Built in 1817, since 2005 the tower has been fenced off because of falling stone debris. It's like Time Team `geophys' but done vertically for a change!
LINK
Nullius in verba: On the word of no one (Motto of the Royal Society)
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Almost certainly a rubble core and failure of the bond between the skin and the core. Big problem. Probably would have been better to build it like a chimney with a hollow core. Telford strengthened his big masonry structures by introducing voids into the construction....

MESSRS. EDWD. BROOKS & SONS, FIRE CLAY WORKS,
HUDDERSFIELD.
Engineer, ROBERT MORGAN ; Builder, JOHN STOCKS.

Description. Octagonal brick panelled pedestal, with stone mouldings; circular brick shaft.
Dimensions,
Height from foundation to top 330' o"
Height from ground line to top 315' o"
Height from ground line to top of pedestal 70' 6"
Outside measurement above plinth 27' o"
Inside 15' o"
Outside diam. at top under cap 12' o"
Inside 9' o"
Outside diam. top of pedestal 20' 4
Inside 14' o"
Foundation, Concrete, 3' deep, 36' square.
Ragstone footings 36' square
Brick 35' square. Stepped to 31' at ground line.

Materials: 144 cu. yds. . concrete.
2452 cub ft. . ragstone footings.
3341 cub ft ashlar.
2227 cub yds brickwork.
Inner Shaft. An inner shaft is constructed for a height of 150', divided at base with a wall 60' high, to prevent baffling of the draughts. Round this inner shaft is a cavity which is supplied with cold air at the base.
Duty. The chimney now serves two boilers, 17 kilns 22'diam.
Cap. The original cap was a large and overhanging one and caused the owners much trouble in consequence of many of the stones being blown down, and others being decayed by the action of the acids emitted from the chimney. The whole of the cap was at last removed and built up with purposely-made
fire-bricks. The firm estimate that the original cap in its erection and removal cost at least £700, and from their experience they are convinced that no stone should be used at top, any overlapping to be gradually formed by hard burnt radiated fire-bricks.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. ADAMS' SOAP WORKS CHIMNEY, SMETHWICK, NEAR
BIRMINGHAM.
Designed by Mr. BUCKLE, Soho, Birmingham.

Description. Circular brick shaft, erected 1835-6.
Dimensions,
Height from foundation to top 326' 10"
Height from ground 312' o"
Outside diam. at ground surface 27' 2"; Inside 15' 2"
Outside diam at top 5' 6"; Inside 4' o"
Weight. Brickwork, 2,000 tons ; concrete, sand and lime, 150 tons.
Bricks. The firm state the bricks used were of large size, and weighed 4 tons per 1,000. The total number of bricks used in shaft was 500,000.

Building Operations. The chimney was commenced in the autumn 1835, and allowed to stand during the winter and was finished in Sept. or Oct., 1836. At the time of its erection this shaft was the highest in the kingdom. The builder who began the work felt alarmed when the shaft had been erected about half its height, and the firm had to finish it themselves.
Lightning Conductor. This shaft has been five times struck by lightning, once during the building when the chimney had reached about 200' in height, and four times since its completion. No very serious damage was done but once, when perhaps the electric fluid was aided by the lime having been abstracted from the mortar by the action of the hydrochloric acid in the escaping gases. The owners were then compelled to take down a portion of the top. These four strokes all happened after the lightning rod had been eaten away at the top by the hydrochloric acid, the remainder of the rod, however, being perfect. The rod is formed of ½ “ iron, and being eaten down only a few feet from the top may have had the effect of diminishing the force of the lightning. The conductor has several times been renewed, but the action of the acid was so
rapid that it has soon been destroyed at the top, where it is exposed to the action of the escaping gases. In consequence of the rod so soon being eaten away, the firm, about 1871, had the conductor coated with platinum, with very favourable results. A few years ago about 30' more of the shaft were removed from the top by Mr. Frith, builder, of Coventry, who commenced fixing his tackle for the purpose by kite-flying, the chimney being in use all the time.
The total height is now about 250' above ground. Cost, £1,700.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. P. DIXON & SONS COTTON FACTORY, SHADDONGATE,
CARLISLE.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Architect, R. TATTERSALL, Manchester ; Builder, RICHARD WRIGHT, Carlisle.
Description. Octagonal brick; built Sept.11th, 1835 Oct. - 25th, 1836.

Dimensions,
Height from foundation to top 320' 6”.
Height from ground line to top 300' o"
Outside measurement at ground line 17' 4": Inside 9' 6"
Outside measurement at top 9' 0"; Inside 6' 8"
Foundation. Concrete, 6' deep, 35' 6" diam.
The footings are 6' in height, built up in 4 courses of 1' 6" each, and having a set off each time of 1' 6". The bricks in the first course of footings numbered 1,997.

Construction. From top of footings to ground line, 8' 6", the base of shaft is circular, being 19' in diam., with walls 5' thick. The flues enter the shaft in this circular base on four sides, and are each 6' 9" high x 2' 6" wide, and are lined with 9" fire brick. The shaft from the ground line is octagonal, and is built up in eight sections as follows :
1st section ... 30' o" high 3' 11" wide = 5 bricks.
2nd …………….60’ high, 3’ 6” = 4 ½ bricks
3rd ……………..30’ high, 3’ 2” = 4 bricks
4th …………….30’ high, 2’ 9” = 3 ½ bricks
5th ……………..30’ high, 2’ 4” = 3 bricks
6th ……………..30’ high, 1’ 11” = 2 ½ bricks
7th ……………..30’ high, 1’ 7” = 2 bricks.
8th ……………..60’ high. 1’ 2” = 1 ½ bricks.
Total is 300' 0" from ground line.
Batter. 1 in 72.

Cap. The cap is of stone 7' o" in depth, projecting 3' o"; above this there is a blocking course of brick 8' 3" in height of 14" work.

Scaffold. The chimney was erected by internal scaffold, stages being erected as the work proceeded. The men and materials were hoisted in boxes, purposely constructed, by a crab worked by 4 men.

Draught. The draught, as ascertained by Mr. Hugh U. McKie, City Surveyor, Carlisle, in Sept., 1877, was equal to a column of water 1.3” in height. This observation was taken among others to find the influence of the draught upon sewers which Messrs. Dixons had allowed the Carlisle Town Council to connect with their chimney, and it was found the sewers were “perceptibly ventilated for a radius of four hundred yards, equal to an area of 502,656 square yards, or over 103 acres."

Duty. Four boilers connected to shaft.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

Image

The chimney at Gilkes turbine works in Kendal in 1979.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. MITCHELL BROTHERS, MANCHESTER ROAD,
BRADFORD.
Architect, Mr. MARK BRAYSHAW ; Builders, Messrs. JOHN MOULSON & SONS.
Description. Octagonal stone. Dimensions, Height from foundation to top 330'. From ground to top 300'. Flue, perpendicular throughout 7' diameter.
External diameter at foundation 20' and at top, 9 ft. Concrete Foundation,
One course 22 X 22 X 1 feet. One course 21 X 21 X 1ft.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. J. CROSSLEY & SONS, DEAN CLOUGH MILLS,
HALIFAX.
Architect, Messrs. R. IVES & SONS, Halifax ; Builders, Messrs. PICKLES BROS.
Built in 1857-8. Time occupied, 18 months.
Description. Octagonal stone shaft, with circular flue.
Dimensions,
Height from foundation to top .......... 330'
Height from ground line to top ............ 300'
Outside measurement at foundation ......... 32'
Inside diameter at foundation……........ 9'
Outside measurement at ground surface ….30’
Inside ditto 9’
Outside diameter at top 15 ½ ft
Inside ditto 9 ft.

Duty. To carry off the smoke from 15 boilers. Foundation. The shaft is founded on rock. Scaffold. Inside. Fire-brick Lining. There is an inner circular shaft of 14" fire-brick, with a space of 3" between it and main shaft.
Weight, 8,300 tons. Cost, £9-10,000.
[No mention of the most distinctive feature of the stack, the crown-like stones on the top. Very distinctive. The stack is in the bottom of a deep valley but seems to have been efficient, never made higher to my knowledge.]

Image

Bert Hardy's famous pic of Dean Clough at Halifax....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
User avatar
Stanley
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 90298
Joined: 23 Jan 2012, 12:01
Location: Barnoldswick. Nearer to Heaven than Gloria.

Re: STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

Post by Stanley »

MESSRS. I. C. JOHNSON & Co.'s CHIMNEY CEMENT WORKS,
GREENHITHE.
Fig. 1 6.
Architect, I. C. JOHNSON ; Builder, Jos. BLACKBURN.
Description* Circular brick.
Dimensions,
Total height, including foundation 304ft. Height from ground line is 297ft
Outside measurement, foundation is 30ft. Outside measurement at ground line (square) is 25ft. Inside measurement at ground line (circular) is 17’ 6”. Outside measurement at top is11ft. Inside is 8’ 9”.

Duty. The smoke and vapour from 19 cement kilns. Fire-brick. No fire-brick lining, the chimney being 300' from kilns. Foundation. The concrete foundation is 30' sq. X 4' thick, laid on the solid block chalk. The brick footings are 3' in height. Bricks. Burham gault, No. 3 wire cut, 9" X 4 ½ “X 2 ¾ " full. Shaft. The bond is Flemish. The shaft for the height of 10' from footings is 25' square externally, with a circular internal diameter of 1 7' 6". There are constructed at the base for a height of 10', four walls or withes to prevent counter draughts. There are four openings made at base of shaft, one on each side of the square, for although only two openings were required,
Mr. Johnson advisedly constructed four, so that the brickwork should be equal in strength on all sides ; the openings not wanted are built up in 9" work. In one of the openings there is a small furnace, which is only required at starting fire. The shaft is constructed in eight sections as follows :
1st section 10' high sq. 5 bricks thick.
2nd . . .41' circ. 4 ½ bricks
3rd ……41ft …….4 bricks
4th ……41ft…….3 ½ bricks
5th …….41ft …….3 bricks
6th …….41ft …….2 ½ bricks
7th ……41ft …….2 bricks
8th …….41ft …….1 ½ bricks

297' high above footings.

The upper 41' being of smaller diameter than the others, the bricks did not quite fit into the circle, so the tips were cut off the stretchers ; a 9" brick suited the circumference everywhere else. The shaft stands on ground about 50' above river level at high water. Scaffold and Construction. This shaft was built up from the inside. Battens on edge were built in every 5' or 6', and covered
with boards to form a platform for men to work upon. When the top was reached these battens were cut out and dropped down, and as they were available for other purposes the cost of scaffold was comparatively trifling. The materials and men were hoisted, by a crab and good manilla rope, up the centre of the scaffold, and not a single accident happened during the whole time of building. Cap. A string course 20' from top is made of three salient
courses of brick, and 5' from top four courses oversail to about 9". The top salient course of same is of stone 3" thick and was put together in segments clamped with galvanized iron clamps run with lead. Lightning Conductor. 5/8” copper rope, fixed by Messrs. Newall & Co., as follows: One of the bricklayers was lowered outside by a rope, before the internal scaffold was struck ; he fixed gun metal eye bolts into the brickwork at intervals, passing the wire rope (which had been drawn up inside) downwards through them until the whole was fixed.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Stanley's View
scg1936 at talktalk.net

"Beware of certitude" (Jimmy Reid)
The floggings will continue until morale improves!
Post Reply

Return to “SteepleJacks”