STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

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GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY WOOL SHED, BRADFORD.
Engineer, R. JOHNSON ; Builder, W. PICKARD & SON. Built, 1875.
Description. Square stone shaft and pedestal.
Dimensions,
Height, including foundation 96' o"
Height above ground line 90' o"
Height of pedestal above ground line 19' o"
Outside measurement at foundation 12' o"
Outside at ground line 9' o"
Inside 2' 9"
Outside above pedestal 6' 9"
Inside above pedestal 2' 9"
Outside under cap 4' 10"
Inside at top 2' 6"
Fire-brick Lining. A 4 ½ " fire-brick lining is constructed independently of the stone work to chimney, for the height of the pedestal. Duty. No. 4 boilers, each 24' long ; outside diameter, 6' ; internal flue diameter, 3'. Batter. Pedestal, parallel. Shaft, 1 in 66. Cost. £260.
Specification, Extract from. The site is on rock, and if in digging out for the foundations it is found that any faults or defective places exist, or if the rock has been quarried to a greater depth than that shewn for the footings, then the excavation is to be continued down to the solid, and a wall 1' wider than the lowest course of footings is to be built up to the proper level for commencing the walls. This wall is to be of rubble masonry in Portland cement, or otherwise (as the Engineer may determine) of concrete composed of stone, broken to pass a 2" mesh, sand and Portland cement in the proportion of six of stone, two of sand and one of cement, to be properly mixed together with the least quantity of water, and thrown into the trench from a height of at least 8'. The mortar is to be composed of the best Skipton or South Elmsall lime, as the Engineer may determine, and clean sharp sand, in the proportion of one of lime to two of sand, to be ground together in a mill worked by steam power on the ground, and only prepared as required for use. The walls are to be built with block in course, pitched face stone from the Bradford, Idle or Calverley quarries, as the Engineer may determine ; the stones to be not less than 11" on
the beds and 6" on the joints, and not less than 7" or more than 14" in thickness ; the thicker courses at the bottom, and diminishing gradually upwards ; thick courses in no case to be laid upon thin ones ; the whole to have boasted beds and joints. No natural faces must show in the wall. The footings are to be of rag stone.
The chimney is to be carried up true and vertical upon its axis ; the base is to be lined inside with Stourbridge fire-brick to a height of 20' from bottom of flue. The shaft is to have an internal width at base of 2' 9" square, and at top 2' 6" square. At junction of shaft with pedestal it is to be corbelled over
internally 6" all round. It is to be 2' thick at this point, and is to be gradually diminished to a thickness of i' 3" under cap. A space of 4" is to be left between the top of fire-brick lining and the bottom of corbelling in chimney, to allow of free expansion. The base moulds, necking and cap to chimney, together with all oversailings, strings and dentils, are to be executed in strict accordance with the drawing upon which all the sizes and forms are given. The cap and base mouldings are to be set in cement, the profiles of which are to be cleanly and sharply cut. The fire-bricks are to be of the best Stourbridge, or quality
equal thereto, set in ground fire-clay, mixed with water to the consistency of cream. The bricks are to be dipped into the liquid fire-clay, laid in place and hammered together, so as to be when finished brick and brick.

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KENT WATER WORKS.
Fig. 80.
Engineer, W. MORRIS, M.I.C.E. ; Builders, J. RIDER & SON.
Built, 1879 ; four months occupied in construction.
Description. Brick, square pedestal, circular shaft, stone cap.
Dimensions,
Height, including foundation 97' 3"
from ground line to top 90' o"
Outside measurement at ground line 9' 3"
Inside , 4' o"
Outside at base of circular shaft .... 7' 9"
Inside , 4'
Outside at top, under cap 5' 6"
Inside 3' 3"
Foundation Bed. Loamy gravel on chalk.
Pedestal. 22' high with Portland stone mouldings, 1ft 10 1/2ins thick brickwork. Fire-brick Lining. 20' high from ground line, 45" thick ; no space between brickwork of pedestal and lining. Shaft. This is erected in three sections, viz. :
1st section ... 21' high . . . 1ft 10 1/2" thick.
2nd ... 25' ... 1ft 6"
3rd ... 22' ,, with cap 1ft 1 ½ “
Wrought Iron Bond, &c. No. 11 rings of wrought iron bond are built into shaft at about 6' intervals, and No. 1 wrought angle iron band placed round circumference of Portland stone cap ; also No. 2 copper rings built into stone cap. Batter. 1 in 56. Scaffold. Outside. Lightning Conductor. Copper tape.
Duty. No. 6, 35 hp. boilers connected to shaft.

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G. TUCKER & SON, BRICKWORKS, &c., LOUGHBOROUGH.
Designed and built by G. TUCKER & SON.
Description. Square brick.
Dimensions,
Height, including foundation 95' o"
from ground line to top 85' o"
Outside measurement at foundation 12' o"
at ground line 8' o"
Inside 4' o"
Outside at top 5' 6"
Inside , 4' o"
Foundation. Concrete on marl foundation bed.
Bricks. Ordinary size, 9" X 4 ½ " X 3".
Batter. 1 in 68. Scaffold. Inside. Cap. Constructed of large purposely-made bricks. Lightning Conductor. Galvanised iron strand. Duty. To carry off smoke, &c., from two boilers and a Hoffman kiln. Cost. About £120.

{There is a Hoffman lime kiln surviving at Settle on the side of the road to Stainforth.]

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WEST END LAUNDRY COMPANY'S CHIMNEY, FULHAM, LONDON.
Architect, WILLIAM C. STREET ; Builders, WEST END LAUNDRY COMPANY.
Built, 1883 (spring of year) ; time occupied, four months.
Description. Brick, circular shaft, on square pedestal.
Dimensions,
Total height, including foundations 97' 6"
Height from ground line 80' o"
Concrete foundation, square 17’ 6". Height 6' o"
Outside measurement base of footings 13' 3"
Ditto bottom of square pedestal . . . 10' 3"
Outside at top of pedestal... 9' 9"
Outside at base of circular shaft 8' o"
Inside 4' 3"
Outside top of shaft 5' o"
Inside 3' 6"
Foundation. The foundation bed is gravel, 17' 6" below ground level.
Fire-brick Lining. The 9" fire-brick lining extends 22' from inside base of pedestal, and is built up square 2' 6" X 2' 6", leaving a cavity at base of 6" and top 4" between fire-brick and inside of pedestal. Pedestal. This is 27' 6" high from top of concrete, and has a batter of 1 in 52.
Construction, Pedestal ... 27' 6" high 2' 7 ½ " brickwork.
Shaft 1st section 16' o"….1ft 10 ½”
2nd 16ft……1ft 6ins
3rd 16ft …..1ft 1 ½”
4th 16ft……9”
91' 6" height from base of footings.
Bricks. 59 m. ordinary bricks used in construction, laid to Flemish bond.
Scaffold. Outside. Weight. 301 tons, giving a little less than one ton pressure
per super foot on foundation bed. Duty. One boiler flue and one vapour flue connected to shaft; total hp. 45.

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HASTINGS ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY'S CHIMNEY.
Architect, E. W. J. HENNAH ; Builder, A. VIDLER.
Built, 1882-3 (August to March).
Description. Square brick.
Dimensions,
Total height, including foundation 85' o"
Height from ground line 78' o"
Outside measurement at ground line 6' 6"
Inside 3' 6"
Outside ,, at top 4' o"
Inside 2' 6"
Foundation. Concrete on clay and sandstone. Batter. The sides for the first 27' of shaft are parallel ; for the remainder of height they diminish to a batter of 1 in 41. Materials. 30 m. of ordinary bricks used in construction laid in cement. Measured work, 6 rods, 226' reduced brickwork. One course 4" stone on top.
Weight. About 90 tons. Scaffold. Outside, costing about £17 extra. Duty. Two boilers working up to 200 hp. Lightning Conductor. Copper tape, cost £12 fixed. Cost. Chimney and scaffold complete, £147.

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MESSRS. ROBERT HEATH & SONS' CHIMNEY SHAFT, RAVENSDALE IRON WORKS, TUNSTALL, STAFFORDSHIRE.
Description. Circular wrought iron shaft, not spread at base.
Dimensions
Height from ground line to top 75'
Outside diameter at ground line 6' o"
at top 6' o"
Wrought Iron Plates. No. 75 wrought iron plates were used in the construction of this shaft, the thickness being ¼ ". The plates have a lap of 2 ¼ ", and are riveted together with 5/8" cup-headed rivets. Fire-brick. The shaft is lined its entire height with firebrick. Duty. The shaft carries off the fumes from three boilers.

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GEO. M. HAMMER & COMPANY, CROWN WORKS, BERMONDSEY, LONDON.
Architect and Builder, G. M. HAMMER & Co. ; Built, 1882.
Description. Brick, square pedestal, octagonal shaft.
Dimensions,
Height, including foundation 80' o"
Height from ground line to top 70' o"
Portland cement, square concrete foundation 5' thick . . 14' o"
Height of pedestal 15' o"
Outside measurement at ground line 7' 4"
Inside , 2' 9"
Outside ,, at base of octagonal shaft ... 5' 10"
Inside ,, . . . 2' 10"
Outside ,, at top, under cap 4' o"
Inside 2' 6"
Foundation Bed. Ballast. Shaft. This is built up in three sections, as follows :-
1st section 15' high 18" thick.
2nd 20' … 14"
3rd 20'…… 9"
Scaffold. Outside. Batter. Pedestal, parallel. Shaft, 1" in 5' or 1 in 60.

Weight. 90 tons including footings = .45 tons per square foot on concrete foundation. Lightning Conductor. Copper strand rope. Duty. No. 1, 30 hp. and the proprietors consider it capable of taking another 30 hp. Boiler. Cost. £208 complete.

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MESSRS. HARVEY & SON, BREWERY CHIMNEY, LEWES.
Fig. 69.
Architect, W. BRADFORD ; Builders, H. CARD & SON. Built, 1881 ; about two months occupied in construction.
Description. Octagonal brick on square pedestal.
Dimensions,
Total height, including foundations 85' o"
Height from ground line 70' o"
Outside measurement at ground line, square 6' 6"
Inside 2' o"
Outside at top 3' 6"
Inside square 2' o"
Foundation. Blue lias concrete, if x 16' x 8' 6" deep, on clay foundation bed. Scaffold. Outside. Cap, &c. Stone in cap and base, cost £70. Duty. To carry away smoke, &c., from one boiler of 25 hp. Lightning Conductor. Copper rope, cost £10 fixed. Cost. Chimney complete, £270.

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CHAIN, CABLE AND ANCHOR TESTING WORKS, RIVER WEAR
COMMISSIONERS, SUNDERLAND.
Figs. 70 & 71.
Engineer, H. H. WAKE, M.I.C.E. ; Builder, GEO. GRAINGER.
Built, 1873, at the rate of 1' 6' in height per day.
Description. Concrete, square pedestal, octagonal shaft.
Dimensions,
Height, including foundation 62' 6"
Height above ground line 56' 6"
Height of pedestal above ground line 24' 9"
Height of shaft, including base moulding 31' 9"
Concrete foundation square 12' o"
Outside measurement at ground line 7' 6"
Inside ditto 4' o"
Outside base of shaft 5' 9"
Inside 3' 3"
Outside at top 3' 4"
Inside 1ft 10"
Foundation. The foundation bed is "forced ground," consisting of sand and town rubbish tipped on to sea beach ; upon this is laid a concrete bed 12' x 12' X 6'. Pedestal. The square pedestal is outside 7' 6" X 7' 6" parallel. Inside to a height of 19' the flue is 4' o" square and parallel ; from this height (see Fig. 71) the insides of pedestal have a batter similar to that of the insides of octagonal shaft. Shaft, Base moulding . 1' 9". Shaft and cap . 30'. The shaft is built up in two sections, as follows :
1st section 15' high 1' 3" thick.
2nd ………..15' high… 9"
Fire-brick Lining. The lining extends the whole height of pedestal, viz., 24' 6" above ground, and is constructed in two thicknesses :
15' high 9" thick.
9 ½ ft, 4 ½ "
There is no cavity or space between the fire-brick and the concrete of pedestal.
Batter. 1 in 25. Materials. Concrete to foundation and pedestal was composed of 1 of Portland cement to 8 of shingle and sand. Concrete to shaft, 1 Portland cement to 5 gravel and sand. Outside of chimney was coated with 1" of cement, in the proportion of 1 cement to 1 sand, and joints struck to represent Ashlar.
Construction. The shaft from base moulding was constructed in the following manner : Wood moulds 3" in height, formed of ¾ “ boards, hinged together in pairs at their outer edges, were constructed to form the quoins of the octagonal shaft. Standards 6' in height were used to bolt the outside moulds to the inside ones, and also to have 3' hold on the work already executed while a 3' length, was being constructed. The batter of the shaft being uniform the quoin moulds did not require re-adjusting every 3' to suit the decreasing girth of the shaft, but this was provided for by wedge pieces being placed on each face working between the quoin moulds ; these wedges had to be reduced in width every 3'. When the quoin moulds had reached half the height of the shaft their edges on each face met, and wedges could not be inserted. The moulds were, therefore, re-adjusted, and a fresh set of wedges started; the edges of quoin moulds met again at top.

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Climbing industrial chimneys in the Czech Republic....LINK

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Freelance climbers have always been a problem in this country whenever a jack laddered a chimney. The usual proactice was to take the bottom ladder off overnight.

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TAKING DOWN SHAFT.
MESSRS. GILKES, WILSON, PEASE & Co., TEES IRON WORKS,
MlDDLESBOROUGH.
Figs. 72 and 73.
Engineer Mr. CHAS. WOOD.
TAKING DOWN A CHIMNEY SHAFT.
An ingenious arrangement for facilitating the taking down of an old chimney shaft was here employed. In consequence of the shaft standing in a crowded position, the plan of letting it fall was inadmissible, and it had to be taken down from the top. The bricks had to be lowered with as little damage as
possible, so that they might be used again for building purposes. Owing to the position of the chimney the bricks could not be thrown down outside, and if thrown down inside they would have been smashed, and if lowered by mechanical means the process would have been very tedious. Under these circumstances it was considered whether the bricks could not be allowed to fall by their own weight, and at the same time be cushioned sufficiently to break their fall and prevent damage. In order to do this an air-tight iron box was placed at the bottom of the chimney (Fig. 72). This box was fitted with an
air-tight door, mounted on hinges and closing on an India rubber face, against which it was tightened by a wedge. A wooden spout was then fixed on to the top of the box and carried up the chimney. It was 3 ½ " x 5" inside, made of
planks 1 1/2 " thick, well nailed together with a little white lead on the edges, thus making it air-tight. The spout was made in about 12' lengths, and these were joined together by cast iron sockets or shoes (see Fig. 73), and caulked round with tarred yarn, the whole apparatus costing about £6. A few stays were put inside the chimney to keep the spout steady. Steps were nailed upon the wooden spout by which the workmen ascended. The whole of the spouting being air- airtight, tight, if a brick filled the spout it would not descend, but as the size of a brick is 3" x 4 ½ " and the spout was 3 ½ " x 5", there was ¼ " space each side, through which the air could pass the brick freely, this space further allowing for any irregularity in the sizes of the bricks. The result was, that the bricks being cushioned in their fall, arrived at the base without damage. As soon as the box was full the man at the bottom rapped on the spout as a signal to stop, and then opened the air-tight door and removed the bricks inside. This being done he shut the door and signalled "all right" to the man at top. The workman at top lowered his own scaffold, and as the spout became too high he cut a piece off. If there were much mortar adhering to the bricks it was knocked off before putting the latter into the spout. Such mortar, &c., was allowed to fall inside the chimney and was afterwards wheeled out.
The plan here described was, we believe, quite novel, and is certainly simple. There are, no doubt, many similar circumstances under which it might be advantageously employed.

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STRAIGHTENING SHAFTS.
CHIMNEY SHAFT, BINGLEY, NEAR BRADFORD.
Straightening. This chimney, which was built at a cost of £2,000, was found some few years since to be 4' 6" out of the perpendicular. The inclination was found to be due to the foundations having settled under the superincumbent mass of brickwork at one side. In this emergency it was advised that excavations should be made under the foundations at the other side until the
chimney settled down to the same extent, and so brought itself back into the perpendicular. A well was actually dug beneath the higher side of the shaft, and supplied with water to favor the yielding of the rigid part of the foundation. This was a very perilous method of straightening the shaft, as after the ground had become sodden with the water and the foundation
of the shaft undermined it would have been next to impossible to have stopped the subsidence at the desired point, and the shaft would have most likely fallen in an opposite direction to that in which it had previously leant. Before, however, any injurious effect had occurred the rectification was placed in the hands of Messrs. Sanderson, of Huddersfield. The first step was the restoration of the foundation to its original state ; the well was filled in and made firm with brickwork and concrete. A gap was next cut half through the bottom of the shaft on the side where no settlement had taken place by removing three courses of brickwork. As this was being effected strong screw jacks of iron were inserted perpendicularly into the gap to take the pressure of the unsupported mass of brickwork. The jacks were 1o"long, and iron plates 1" thick were inserted above and below their ends to serve as temporary platforms. The jacks were inserted one after the other, a few inches apart, as the brickwork was cut away, and each one was adjusted by its regulating screw, so as to come at once into right bearing for sustaining its share of the weight. When the entire gap had been formed and all the screw-jacks inserted, the jacks were very slowly and gradually shortened as the weight did its work,
and when the shaft had nearly settled back into its original perpendicular position, the portions of the gap, which lay between the screw-props, were filled in with masonry, the screws were, one after the other, removed, and masonry also put in their place. The making good of the work was commenced before the shaft had quite reached the perpendicular, because it was known that a slight allowance must be made for a small compression of the new work after the entire filling in of the gap. The straightening, as here detailed, was successful, and the shaft now stands perpendicular.

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CHEMICAL WORKS, PITCHCOMBE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.
Straightening Chimney. The octagonal brick shaft at Messrs. Matthews & Sons' Works, as above, built 1862, and 132' high, gradually settled from its upright position until in 1875 it was found to be 3' 10" at top from the perpendicular. Mr. H. J. Taylor, of Nailsworth, assisted by three workmen,
undertook to straighten the shaft, by means of cutting out one course of bricks on the five sides opposite to the inclination, inserting a thinner course in its place, and letting the stack regain its upright position by the action of gravitation. A platform was erected about 40' from the base, and the walls, which at this height were 2' in thickness, cut through by means of hammers and chisels. As the bricks were removed a thinner course was substituted, and the space above filled with iron wedges. This work lasted three weeks, the weather being most unfavourable. The chimney stood the operation well. When everything was in readiness the wedges were withdrawn, and the stack settled to within an inch or two of the perpendicular. It had been calculated that ¼ " would bring the stack back 7" at top, so that the difference in the thicknesses of the courses had to be 1 5/8” The cost of a new shaft was estimated at £800, and the old one was straightened at about one-tenth this amount, and is still working satisfactorily.

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FALL OF SHAFTS.
STRAIGHTENING AND FALL OF A CHIMNEY.
Oldham. A large shaft 165' high, 16' diameter at base and 7' 6" diameter at top, was, in 1873, constructed at the new works of Messrs. Abraham Stott & Son, Osborn Mills, Feather Stall Road, Oldham. It was found necessary to straighten the pile, which leaned considerably over to one side. The owners, therefore, entered into a contract with two brothers named Gradwell, of Newton Heath, to "saw" the chimney. Mr. Stott found that the men were taking out a whole course of bricks, at a third of the height of the shaft, and temporarily supplying its place with a series of wedges of wood and iron, instead of "sawing" the mortar out as arranged. The owner at once remonstrated with one of the men, but he declared the plan was safe, and
took Mr. Stott to some rising ground adjacent, to observe the safety, when, as if in ridicule of his assertion, the chimney toppled over, except about 30' at the base. The poor fellow on the scaffold was buried in the fallen bricks. Adjacent to the shaft was the boiler house, a large new building, which was completely wrecked, a portion of the stalk falling upon it. At the inquest it was deposed that the shaft was built on sound principles, but in a faulty manner. The material was inferior, the bricks being soft and the mortar improperly mixed,
consisting too largely of sand.

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TAKING DOWN AND FALL OF A CHIMNEY.
Glasgow. A chimney nearly 100' high in the yard of a railway wagon builder at Glasgow, fell on January 10th, 1870, killing two men. The stalk had been deemed insecure, and the men killed were employed with two others in taking down 20' from the top. Cross stays were erected inside the shaft, by
means of which the men ascended to the top, where they removed the bricks, and dropped them inside the chimney. An aperture was made in the base 5' high by 3' wide, through which the two men at foot of shaft removed the fallen bricks. While they were so engaged the stalk suddenly gave way at the base, killing the two men at top ; the men at the bottom, however, escaped without injury. The accident was supposed to have been occasioned by the aperture weakening the base.

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HEIGHTENING AND FALL OF A CHIMNEY.
Bury. On January 23rd, 1884, a chimney at Messrs. Allen and Parker's Eaton Vale bleachworks, near Bury, fell, killing three women and wrecking the building. The shaft was 105'high, 7' 2" at base, 4' inside and 9" brickwork at top. The chimney was originally 90' high and was partly pulled down, rebuilt,
raised and the batter lessened in June, 1870, by Messrs. Chris. Hardman & Sons, to increase the draught. In December, 1882, Mr. Robert Williams, of Elton, straightened the shaft by taking out a course of bricks from one side and replacing it with a thinner one ; he also put five wrought iron ties round the shaft, the uppermost one being above the cornice and stonework, there being a fissure in the blocking at top, part of which was nearly hanging off. The work was done in frosty weather. The crack was filled up with mastic and oil. Mr. James Maxwell, an architect, who examined on behalf of the Coroner, stated at the inquest that the base was defective, not only in its area but in the strength of the walls and the construction of same. The walls were built of 9" brickwork and 9" stonework outside. Little attempt had been made to obtain a proper bond. The increased height, he considered, to be the primary cause of the accident. The chimney was observed, at the time of accident, to be
caught by a gust of wind that caused it to vibrate about a foot, and a second gust following brought down the stalk. It appeared to break about 30' from the top. It fell in the direction to which it had previously inclined. A new shaft was to have been commenced on the day of the accident.

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VIOLENT GALE, 1873, AND FALL OF CHIMNEYS.
Sheffield. A square chimney, 116'high above ground, in Trippet Lane, Sheffield, belonging to Mr. W. Reynolds, fell during a severe gale on December 16th, 1873, killing 10 persons and injuring five. The chimney in its fall demolished a four storey building adjoining. The chimney had often been observed to sway when the wind was high, and on the morning of the
accident a number of people were watching the oscillations, but the workpeople took no notice of it. The top was ornamental and made of terra cotta ; the cornice was hollow, so as to be as light as possible ; there was also a balustrade on the top. Mr. T. H. Jenkinson, an architect, gave evidence at the inquest that after the chimney had been erected exaggerated reports were
circulated as to its rocking, and he made an examination during a severe gale and found the oscillation amounted to 2" each way. The attention of the Town Council had, he believed, been called to the chimney a few years ago. The chimney tapered about 1' from the base to the top. Mr. W. Reynolds, builder, who also owned the shaft, said he was responsible for the erection ; nothing
could have been put together better. It was built on the solid rock 4' below ground, and was 116' high from ground line. A quarter of an hour before the chimney fell he observed it oscillating more than it usually had done. The chimney broke 50' above the base. When the complaints were made to him
soon after the completion he greatly strengthened the base, and thereby prevented much oscillation. The outside was composed of the best pressed bricks. The shaft was constructed in 1858 and cost £300. Eight workshops were destroyed, and considerable damage done to the 20 hp. engine by the fall. The damage to property, irrespective of a large stock of cutlery, in process of manufacture, was estimated at £3,500. At the inquest the jurors expressed their opinion that the shaft was too high for the width of the base. The gale causing this disaster was an exceptionally severe one, and also caused the demolition of the following shafts in the neighbourhood, viz. :
Portobello. Messrs. Chris. Johnson & Co., cutlery manufacturers.
Western Works, two chimney stacks blown down. No injury except to buildings.
Wicker. Mr. Freckingham, Willey Street, engine chimney to the mortar mills blown down, falling through mortar mill roof.
Spital Hill. Mr. J. Blyde, Hallcar Works, chimney stack fell, completely smashing roof.
Bolsover Street. Mr. J. Dodworth, shaft to engine blown down.
Furnace Hill. Messrs. Longden & Co., Phoenix Foundry, shaft 60' high blown down.
Watery Lane. Messrs. W. Guest & Sons, Neptune Works, shaft blown down, demolishing a new cutlery shop and damaging house adjoining.
Milton Street. Messrs. Matthewman & Sons, Milton Works, large brick chimney fell, considerably damaging the works.
Saville Street. Messrs. Thos. Firth & Sons, Norfolk Works, shaft blown down, injuring three workmen and causing great destruction of machinery and buildings. The chimney was 120' high with 1 '6" walls, and snapped about the middle. The falling bricks broke the steam pipes from the boilers, and the steam severely scalded one of the men ; he was also crushed about the legs and body. Damage to buildings and machinery was estimated at £1,000.

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This one is a bit of a laugh.....

BLOWING-DOWN SHAFTS.
BLOWING-DOWN CHIMNEY.
Dublin. On April 10th, 1884, an attempt was made by the Royal Engineers to blow down a conical shaft built 1820, at the works of the Glass Bottle Company, North Lotts, Dublin, in the occupation of Mr. W. Campbell. In compliance with a requisition sent to the military authorities trained men were brought from the Curragh, and a dynamo-battery sent from Chatham to fire the charges. The work was under the superintendence of an officer of the Royal Engineers. The shaft was a truncated cone 95' in height and 64' diameter at base, with walls 4 ½ ' thick, tapering to 1 ½ ' at top, and the weight was roughly estimated at 2,500 tons. The shaft rested upon twelve piers or pillars of brickwork; in each of these a charge of cannon powder weighing 2 ¾ lbs. was placed, closely "tamped up" and connected with a
double electric wire attached to a low-pressure dynamo-machine, so as to fire the charges simultaneously. The machine was some 150 yards distant, on rising ground. At noon the charges were fired and a dozen little puffs of smoke became visible, there being little or no concussion, and with the exception that on the north and south sides of the shaft portions of brickwork slid slowly to
the ground, the chimney stood as erect as before. A second attempt was made with 2o-lbs. of gunpowder, which was placed under one of the smaller arched openings on a beam that traversed it, and was closely packed with sand bags. The wires were connected afresh and the charge was exploded, but with no
result beyond destroying the sand bags. At the suggestion of a bystander a chain was attached round one of the brick piers and the end fastened to the axle of a dray drawn by a couple of horses, but these failed to secure the desired effect and the idea was abandoned. An engine of the Great Southern and Western Railway, a branch of which adjoined the works, was next called
into requisition. A chain was attached from the engine round a beam that spanned an opening in the base, the brickwork near to which looked shaky, the only result being that the beam broke. The chain was next passed round one of the brick supports and this time the draw bar of the engine gave way. The chain, however, was next attached to the rear of the engine and this
time the chain broke. A 3" diameter hawser was then attached and the engine started, but the hawser, imperfectly fastened, dropped off. The men were again approaching the stubborn mass when there occurred a rumbling sound and a cloud of dust, and the immense shaft collapsed, fortunately before the
men had reached the chimney.

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Warrington, Lancashire. About nine years ago the tall circular brick shaft at Messrs. Muspratt's Chemical Works, Warrington, 406' high, 46' diameter at base and 17' diameter at top, was blown down by gunpowder, the works having been moved to another locality and the chimney therefore being in
disuse. Mr. Stephen Court, engineer and architect to the St. Helen's Canal and Railway Company, superintended the demolition. A number of holes were delved round the base and fourteen charges of gunpowder inserted. The train was fired at 2.30 p.m. Nine charges exploded without any apparent damage being done to the stability of the shaft, but the report of the tenth had no
sooner been heard than the chimney was rent from top to bottom and the huge mass gradually disintegrated from the base upwards. The whole of the stalk fell nearly within the circumference of its own base. No accident occurred.

[I had never come across this large stack until I read Bancroft. Muspratt is reputed to be the first person in the UK to utilise the Leblanc Process. See THIS]

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This one is ingenious!

MOVING SHAFTS.
MOVING A CHIMNEY.
Cabot Company's Cotton Mill, Brunswick, Maine, U.S.A. A shaft at the above works was moved 20' in May, 1872, to allow of the enlargement of the mill. The shaft was 78' high, 7' 9" square at base, 5' square at top, contained 40,000 bricks, and weighed about 100 tons. The work was accomplished by moving the chimney on planed and greased planks by means of two screw jacks. The flues were re-connected, and the fires started within 8 ½ hours from the commencement. The removal was planned and executed by Mr. Benjamin Greenes.

[Stanley]

CL IMBING CHIMNE YS.
TALL CHIMNEY CLIMBING.
Messrs. Sanderson & Co., of Huddersfield, have an ingenious method of ascending to the tops of tall chimneys for purposes of examination and repair. It consists in pushing length after length of short segments of a ladder, as it were telescopically, up against the perpendicular face of the shaft, and climbing simultaneously upon the lengthening out ladder. A number of
ladders of 15' length are in the first instance prepared, which are identical with each other in detail and form, and which are so fashioned that the bottom of any one ladder can be dropped into sockets provided at the top of any of the rest. The sides of each segment are pivots at the bottom and sockets at the top.
There are also standards or pegs about 8" long projecting out from one face of each segment, which serve the purpose of keeping it off the brickwork when it is fixed and by this means providing a secure foothold and handhold. The first step in the erection of the ladder consists in placing one of the sections standing perpendicularly upon the ground against the bottom of the chimney. A workman then drives an iron dog or holdfast firmly into the brickwork 1' up from the bottom of the ladder and 1' down from its top. These holdfasts are of a hooked form, so that they can each be made to clamp one of the rungs of the ladder when they are driven home upon it into the brickwork. The segment of the ladder is firmly attached to the shaft of the chimney when this has been accomplished. When one section of the ladder has been attached in this
way a free ladder is sloped against it and the climber then ascends upon this until he can reach a foot above the top of the fixed segment. He there drives in a holdfast and attaches to it a pulley and block, so that one end of the rope reeved into the pulley can be brought half down a second loose section of the
ladder, placed perpendicularly and side by side with the first. The rope is there fastened at midway height, and by means of the block the second section of the ladder is hauled up by men standing upon the ground until it projects half-ladder height above the section No. 1 . In that position it is temporarily lashed to the fixed section, rung to rung, so that the climber can mount to its top and drive a holdfast into the brickwork 1' above its upper extremity. He then shifts the pulley and block to this upper holdfast and descends to the ground. Section 2, still attached to the rope at its middle part, is then hoisted up to its full height above section 1 . The climber, following its ascent, next inserts the pivots of its sides into the sockets at the top of section No. 1, mounts upon its steps as, still held by the pulley, it leans against the chimney, drives home two hooked holdfasts, clamping its rungs to the chimney, near the bottom and near the top ; and this having been done the second section remains fixed in continuation of the first, and the ladder attached to the brickwork has thus grown from 15' to 30' in height. The climber is then able to mount to its top, 30' up the chimney, and extending his arm about 1' higher upon the brickwork, drives in there the holdfast which becomes the point d'appui for the hauling up a third section of the ladder, first half its length and then full height above the second segment, so that it can be in its turn pivoted into the sockets. The third section, in doing this, is handled in every essential particular like the first, pulled half-ladder high, temporarily lashed to the topmost rungs of the fixed ladder, then lifted to its full height, pivoted into the sockets of the fixed ladder there and clamped firmly to the brickwork, and the fixed ladder has grown to a length of 45', by the junction of three segments of 15' each. This process is afterwards repeated with other sections of the ladder again and again, half lengths at a time, until a perpendicular path has been laid from the bottom to the top of the chimney. A chimney 255' high, it will
be observed, requires seventeen sections of the ladder to reach to its top.
The essential points in this ingenious process are: (i) The temporary lashing of each section of the ladder when it is half way up, so that the climber can get safely to the top, as it is held still attached to the pulley, and fix a fresh block above its upper extremity for the accomplishment of the second half of the
hoist ; (2) the joining of the sections by appropriate sockets as each one is placed in position upon the one beneath ; and (3) the fixing of each section, when it is once lifted into its place, by the holdfasts driven into the brickwork of the chimney. The ladder virtually creeps up to the top of the chimney, joint above joint. The process is so easily performed by practiced hands that the highest chimneys are scaled in brief intervals of time. The chimney at the Abbey Mills Pumping Station, near Stratford, 230' high, was laddered its entire height in three hours and a half by this method.

[plaques]

Always wondered how it was done. Now how do they ladder the bulge of the chimney cap?

[Stanley]

The ladder at the bulge has to lean backwards P. It's an interesting experience going up that one! The method described above never took on, in both the Lancashire and Yorkshire methods the ladders are fixed one by one as they climb. Incidentally, the Yorkshire method where the ladders are fixed further away from the stack on stays means that the slope on the final ladder is a lot less severe, easier to deal with!



Peter Tatham laddering Salford Destructor chimney. He used the Lancashire method in which the ladders were lashed to dogs driven into plug wood in holes cut in the chimney. In this image he is perched on the very top of the last ladder cutting the first dog hole for the next ladder. He had a pulley lashed to the op ladder and his mate on the ground hauled the next ladder up to him. When he got it he lashed it to the top ladder and on to the next dog he had just fixed. He then climbed that ladder and put the top dog in and lashed the ladder to it and then repeated the process,

[Stanley]

On re-reading the description above I was a bit harsh on it. It's a cross between Yorkshire and Lancashire laddering in that the Yorkshire ladders had the sockets, the Lancashire ladders didn't. The Lancashire ladders were all lashed together with short lengths of rope and lashed to the dogs as well. The Yorkshire ladders were kept away from the face of the brick by struts hooked into special dogs and not lashed. The Lancashire ladders had a block on each stile of the ladder which held the ladder about 5" from the face of the brick. Here's a pic of Ellenroad being laddered by Brooke Edgeley using the Yorkshire ladders. I think you can see the difference.



Note the double section on the ladder end of the strut. There was a nut and bolt in the stile of the ladder and the distance from the stack could be adjusted slightly to keep the line of the ladders straight and level.



You could trust the struts.....