[Ojay]

Barrow Bridge Chimney, Bolton



Built in 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




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

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!



















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



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

[The-Village-Idiot]

Nice work

Is nobody else going to do the spring?

[Ojay]

I went and had a look, but looked pretty un-inspiring tbh and CBA with the st00ping

[The-Village-Idiot]

Originally Posted by ojay

I went and had a look, but looked pretty un-inspiring tbh and CBA with the st00ping

That spring is more than a bloody stoop I can tell ya, nice bit of history though. Im going to do the spring again one day but not that sooty chimney again.

[Kenni]

Think im going to be having a pop at it but doesnt look very safe

[Ojay]

Originally Posted by Kenni

Think im going to be having a pop at it but doesnt look very safe

It's collapsed in places, I didn't go that far tbh looks dodgy as fuck.

Good luck tho and deffo be carefull, looks like it's gonna be a crawler

[n-munky]

Bit of an update on the chimney, from Bolton News.

And a developer unveiled plans in August to build a circular glass house on the side of a chimney — suspended 60 feet above ground level.

The 260ft-high chimney near Barrow Bridge has stood idle for 30 years, but the unnamed developer wants to put the futuristic three-bedroom house around it and build a staircase and a lift in the spine of the chimney.

Bolton Council will decide by October 12 if it can be built.

[Snake Oil]

thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Isn't the chimney a listed structure?

[n-munky]

I'm not sure. You can still convert listed buildings though for residential purposes. I hope the locals oppose it though because it will look absolutely daft.

[Ojay]

Crazy