Accrington landmark mill demolished
AN ACCRINGTON landmark came crashing to earth, marking the end of a mill’s 229-year history.
The demolition of Woodnook Mill chimney created a huge dust cloud as it came swiftly down, watched by a crowd of spectators who had gathered in the rain to watch the end of an era.
The demolition team used an old-fashioned “Fred Dibnah” technique to topple the landmark safely at 2pm today.
Rather then use explosives, which could make it unpredictable as to where the chimney would fall, the team used a technique to cut a large hole at the bottom of the chimney, supporting the brickwork with wooden props, and then burnt away the props so the chimney fell.
The mill which was built in 1780 as a carding and jenny mill was purchased by the Hargreaves family in 1819. The mill itself was attacked in the power loom riots ion 1835 and had 20-foot diameter water wheel in it’s heyday which was powered by an undergound stream.
Bought by the Highams family in 1909 the mill was expanded until it was home to 450 ‘power looms’ by 1915.
Hyndburn historian Walter Holmes said: “I used to live in Hargreaves Street in the 1930s and 1940s and I still remember seeing the mill owner, Sir Thomas Higham, going to the mill in his black Rolls Royce and going home again to where his own little estate was at the top of Adelaide Street.”
John Warburton, of Warburton’s Steeplejacks of Blackburn, who led the demolition of the chimney, said the demolition went exactly as planned. The demolition is the 500th chimney he has taken down and his 88th felling.
The mill site, off Mount Street in Accrington is being cleared as aprt of the multi-million pound Elevate regeneration scheme.
Hyndburn Borough Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “I thought the demolition was spectacular but it is very sad to see it go as it’s the end of an era. It is poignant when these chimneys go, but that is what they call progress. At least this proud old landmark went out with a bang.”
(source)
Great to see the old man’s spirit and technique live on. There’s some pictures here as well.