STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

[David Whipp]

Fernbank Mill, taken in June 2011.

[Stanley]

Nice pic David, I've pinched a copy!



Fernbank in 1978.

[Stanley]

I noticed the other day on the way to the hospital that Barden Mill chimney is scaffolded and it looks like a piecemeal demolition.

[Stanley]

I went looking for Barden Mill chimney on the web and tripped over this pic by Daniel Meadows of Peter Tatham on the Salford Destructor stack in 1977.

[Stanley]

A man cage on a long jib can be useful for an aerial snap. Ellenroad in 1989.

[David Whipp]

Mi knees have gone weak, even though I'm sat down!

[Stanley]

Nah.... You'd have soon got over that. Views from a height overcome all sorts of fears. I was always afraid and funnily enough, when I discussed this with Pater Tatham, the jack, he said that he was as well. He said that once you lost the fear of falling you were in danger.

[plaques]

I noticed the other day on the way to the hospital that Barden Mill chimney is scaffolded and it looks like a piecemeal demolition.

Stanley, are you sure it was Barden Mill. I thought the original three story mill was demolished some years ago and only left a single story which became a retail outfit. The only thing of consequence that remained of the old building was the door lintel carrying the name and date.

[Stanley]

Never sure I am right P! I saw it from the roundabout as we came off the motorway at the do it yourself centre. Any corrections? (mind you, blind on that side at the moment!)

[David Whipp]

I think Stanley is thinking of what is now the junction 12 shopping centre at Brierfield, which is slightly in front of Brierfield Mill (the former multi-storey Smith and Nephew site (now referred to as 'Northlight').

[plaques]

I think David is right. Mind you the Barden Lane - Barden Mill outlet has now relocated into the 'old junction 12' so it could be a bit of banner advertising.

[Stanley]

Had a look yesterday. It's at what is now called Pendle Village and Barden Mill shopping outlet.

[Stanley]

A chimney in Nelson in 1980. Which mill was it?

[David Whipp]

Off Netherfield Road?

[deebee]

Does the 061 telephone number suggest it's in Manchester rather than Nelson?

db

[plaques]

If it is Nelson I would say Holme Mill built by John Walton.

[Steeplejerk]

061 764 is a Bury telephone number.

[Stanley]

John Burlison solved the mystery this morning. Here is what he wrote:
Hello Stanley, Just thought i'd write to mention the last photo posted on your chimney site refers to a chimney in Nelson in 1980, I know that building near the chimney, but its on Bolton Road, just entering Bury town centre on the A58. (photo attached). Regards John.
So my label was wrong. Thanks John!

[Stanley]

Edna Lumb's last mill painting of Owl Mill at Oldham. The photo in the bottom corner is one I did of it in about 1989. I bought it from her after I met her at Ellenroad in 1986.

[Stanley]

You might wonder why I have posted a picture of the Midland Hotel in Manchester. Peter Tatham had a contract to maintain the main flue for the boiler which was a chimney embedded in the structure and invisible from the outside. Access was through the service areas of the hotel and Peter said the biggest job was getting his tackle to the job.

[Stanley]

Peter had a regular contract down in Gloucestershire and that was where Higgy fell down a hole on the way back from the pub and broke his arm.... He still had the plaster on at Salford. Andy Berger is with him. They tell me they are both dead now.....

[David Whipp]

You caught the whites of their eyes. They could be commandos.

[Stanley]

Some of my snapper friends reckon this is the best pic I ever did. I must admit I like it. The black marks were round the area protected with goggles as the black ash-lime mortar got everywhere.

[Stanley]

The chimney head at Ellenroad in 1988. Note the bar embedded in the brickwork which the Brooke Edgeley jacks have used as an anchor. All the brickwork you can see is new, put up by Peter Tatham. We had decided to put a GRP venturi on the head to cut down on weather getting to the inside of the flue and I suggested to Peter that we embed flat stainless steel bars in the brickwork with a hole at the end to accept the holding down bolts for the venturi. Peter liked the idea and suggested we put them at low level and leave a good lump with a hole in it protruding on the outside, he said they would make useful anchors for future work on the head. So we did that and everyone who worked on the stack afterwards commented on how useful they were. Brooke Edgeley used them at one point to anchor a chain round the head which made a good foundation for the large scaffold they had round the head at one time. I've always believed in having sky hooks and installed them every time I got the opportunity.

[Stanley]

John Burlison tells me that the demolition at Rugby Mill is finished and the engine bed stones are sat waiting to be taken away.