STEEPLEJACK'S CORNER 2012

[chinatyke]

When I worked at John C Carllson at Butts Mill in 1964 (?) we had regular visits from the water board inspector. One morning he came into the lab and asked the the Chief Chemist if he wanted to go to Whitemoor WW because that was his next visit. When they arrived the beam engine had "exploded". If I remember correctly one of the valves had jammed and one thrust of the beam was enough to destroy the engine. You might know more about this event.

[Stanley]

I think you might be referring to the incident in October 1939 when the bucket in the deep well jammed in the pump, brought the gearing to a dead stop, destroyed the jack wheel, stretched the rods and damaged the headgear. Newton and Bob Forth were up there for about four months getting it all sorted. The engine never was a beam engine.



Here's the new jack wheel at Wellhouse. See Newton's transcripts in the LTP for the full story and about later adventures with jammed buckets in the pump at the foot of the well.

[chinatyke]

I think you might be referring to the incident in October 1939 when the bucket in the deep well jammed in the pump, brought the gearing to a dead stop, destroyed the jack wheel, stretched the rods and damaged the headgear. Newton and Bob Forth were up there for about four months getting it all sorted. The engine never was a beam engine.

Nope, I wasn't born then! This was late 1963 or early 1964. The Chemist was Dougy Richardson and he described what had met them when they attended. He said the damage was enormous. From his description it was some sort of beam engine/pump arrangement and from memory there was some sort of vessel which stored the energy as compressed air to smooth the flow and this was blown to bits.

[Stanley]

Must have been a later accident I know nothing about China. It would be the head gear on the big well, not a beam engine. That could be the point where they went over to submersible electric pumps to replace the steam engines.

[Stanley]

I came across an artefact closely relating to steeplejacks and I'll use it as a Mystery Object. Interesting to see whether any of the jacks pick it up!

[Stanley]

The old chimney builders understood the necessity for a good earth point for the lightning conductors they installed. The modern earth terminal is usually a heavy copper rod driven deep enough into the ground to contact the moist ground above the water table. I have been told, but never seen one, that in the early days it was common to bury a large copper object in the ground and connect the conductor rod to it.

[Bodger]

t"hat in the early days it was common to bury a large copper " ,
I assume he was dead ?

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

How is the job these days Tom. Is the fall in available work matched by the reduction in the number of jacks? Can you still make a living?

[Stanley]

I did this picture but can't remember where the demolition site was. Does anyone recognise it?

[David Whipp]

Guess; Bunkers Hill, Colne?

[Stanley]

Doesn’t ring a bell David. I have this vague feeling it was a bit further over the hill towards Rossendale.....

[chinatyke]

It looks familiar. Just a guess hoping to jog your memory, was it Vale Mill at Haslingden?

[Stanley]

That sounds like a possible China, I was spending a lot of time in that area working on Spring Vale Mill when I did this.....
I've had a bit of a furtle China and I am almost certain you are right. Vale Mill demolition in 1986... I've been through the archive and noted it on all the pics.....

[Stanley]

Another view. The machines are N&R from Todmorden.

[Stanley]

Nick Livesey gave me this slightly different view of Old Coates Mill shortly before it was demolished in 1890. We did a lot on the old site about the origin of the steeplejack trade and found some good resources but one area that is woefully under researched is the origin of the specialised trade of mill and chimney building. This mill grew over the years from a small water mill to a relatively large steam driven mill. It had an engine very early in the first years of the 19th century and so it would need a chimney. This was new ground for the local masons and is probably the reason why these early chimneys were square, it was what the masons understood best. You can see that at some point, probably a better engine, they had to extend the stack. I wonder how they viewed the prospect of building at heights they had never dreamed of.... I'll bet there were some sleepless nights!

[Stanley]

Bit of a contrast to the early stacks. Here is a pic one of our jacks posted of a much later and more complicated construction.

[Stanley]

One thing about high stacks that has always intrigued me is their stability and ability to withstand forces that wreck ordinary buildings. Next time you see images of bomb damage, atomic attack or earthquakes, look for the stacks. You'll find that a surprising number have survived.

[Stanley]

Bancroft chimney in snow and a strong North wind. Definitely not weather for steeplejacks!

[Stanley]

One thing I learned in my chimney climbing days was that the wind speed is always far higher at height. Peter Tatham said that his wind gauge was his heavy ex army leather jerkin, when the flaps at the bottom started blowing about it was time to go down!

[Stanley]

That picture reminds me of how much Peter liked his Capstan Full Strength. Young Tom and I are of the same mind, it was them that got him in the end, he just seemed to dry up.....

[Invernahaille]

Is that Ellenroad in the photo? Stanley

[Stanley]

Yes Robert, it's when we were putting the new head on the stack. He looks like a bloody gargoyle doesn't he.....

[Stanley]

Young Tom and Peter (with fag!).

[Whyperion]

One thing about high stacks that has always intrigued me is their stability and ability to withstand forces that wreck ordinary buildings. Next time you see images of bomb damage, atomic attack or earthquakes, look for the stacks. You'll find that a surprising number have survived.

Thick at bottom with fewer horizontal courses further up I guess would give movement and flex, and being generally circular dissipate forces more equally - bit like drilling a hole to stop a crack in some objects and arches in buildings to prevent downward collapse from forces above.