Barrow Bridge Chimney, Bolton

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Built 1863, The chimney was part of the power system of the nearby Halliwell Bleach Works

The works were founded by Peter Ainsworth in 1739, and acquired a reputation in the early 19th Century for the early use of chlorine gas in the bleaching process, under the direction of Richard Ainsworth

The chimney is now the principal surviving relic of the bleach works

Aged 17 Fred Dibnah climbed the 262-foot (80 m) chimney at Barrow Bridge, for a 10 shilling bet. During the night he took two Union flags to the top and secured each to the lightning conductors there

The Bolton Evening News reported the incident, with a photograph of Dibnah's feat, but attributed it to the activities of students from Manchester University

He has since maintained the chimney, carrying out significant repairs in 1996

The chimney was last inspected in 2007, sadly not by Fred who passed away in 2004 - R.I.P

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I had wanted to look at this for a while now, but time was always against me, so whilst in the area today with Oldskool, we decided to check out the chimney and it's flue

Now I was told it was grimey, but fuck me I've never encountered anything as filthy as this place, and believe me I have been in some real shit holeZ :D

The main flue splits from the base of the chimney and runs for about 80M where it's now backfilled before reaching the demolished bleach works

It was great to see the brickwork, and infact I'm astounded the place hasn't collapsed, but then why would it, these structures were always over engineered

We grabbed a few shots having struggled through before returning to civilisation where I now looked like the ace of spades!

Despite a good hosing down, and 2 showers I cannot get this soot off me FFS...Grrr

As Fred would say "Did you like that" - Well actually on this occasion did I fooK!


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I looked like Sooty & Sweep amongst other things by the time we got out

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PS - If you go here, I recommend shorts & T-shirt :D

Originally Posted by andym (Post 137492) This place isn't far from my nana and grandpa's, in fact every time I drive down Moss Bank Way, I look at the chimney and think that it's leaning slightly. Or is it me?