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Thread: Lead Shot Tower, Chester

  1. #1

    Default Lead Shot Tower, Chester

    Not a Merseyside explore, but I was posting it on another forum and thought that some of you might

    find it interesting anyway.

    This lead shot tower in Chester was once used to make lead shot (funnily enough!). Molten lead was dripped from the top,

    the air cooling it as it fell. It was then collected at the bottom to be used in firearms. Different sized sieves produced different sized shot. Getting in

    wasn't too bad, despite the local curtain-twitchers and riff-raff, and we headed straight for the

    tower.



    [IMG]http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/leadshot2/D

    sc_0117.jpg[/IMG]

    Once inside, looking up gives you a good idea of the true scale of the place, with the stairs (and old ladders) spiralling

    up towards the intermediate floor, and then on to the top. The bottom of the stairs was a bit smashed up and required some climbing, but it wasn't too much

    trouble.



    [IMG]http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/leadshot2

    /Dsc_0112.jpg[/IMG]

    At the first stage the lower melting pot was found, which is still largely intact with some electrical equipment and a

    lot of bird muck. The floor here is 'ok', but we were careful all the

    same...


    Having taken some photos at the intermediate

    level, it was time to push on up to the top. This is where it starts getting scary, and you just have to not think about what your actually doing - keep

    putting one foot after the other and try not to look

    down!


    For the most part, the stairs are reasonably

    solid. Every now and then there is a dodgy step and you have to make sure you don't slip. A bit further up there is evidence of damage - perhaps people

    throwing stuff from the top, which would seem odd, as they'd have to go back down those steps on the way

    out...


    And so I made it to the top, where the upper

    melting pot is, along with loads of bird muck, the lift apparatus and some rather dodgy looking walking boards which suggest the floor isn't so good up here

    (probably thanks to the rain pouring in). View down isn't

    bad...



    [IMG]http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/leadshot2/D

    sc_0094.jpg[/IMG]


    I didn't hang about too long before

    working my way back down. Going down is worse, as you're looking down the whole time. Still, it had to be done, and with a sigh of relief I reached terra

    firma
    . Finally we had a look at the old washrooms once used by staff working at the tower and lead

    works.



    [IMG]http://www.forties-design.co.uk/photos/leadshot2/D

    sc_0122.jpg[/IMG]

  2. #2
    Senior Member shytalk's Avatar
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    snappel Are you very brave or just a nutter?.

    Great picsthough.
    Last edited by shytalk; 10-22-2006 at 09:25 PM.
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  3. #3
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
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    They are

    fantas[COLOR=Plum

    ]t
    ic[/COLOR]
    Snappel, much appreciated. I would poo my kecks looking down fom that height. It must

    have taken you ages to put your web addresses on each one.

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  4. #4

    Default

    I have written a nifty bit of code to watermark my images - or rather, somebody else wrote most of it and I just stole

    it!

    As for the tower... it is a scary one, I have to admit, but you just have to try and block the fear out. The place is in quite good condition, and

    apart from a small hole in the roof is quite well sealed, meaning the steps aren't rotten or anything.

    Believe it or not, I'm scared of flying! I



    have real issues with it, but I seem to be able to do this kind of thing. But it was a relief to get back on the ground, I can tell you!!

  5. #5
    Senior Member Waterways's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by snappel View Post
    I have written a

    nifty bit of code to watermark my images - or rather, somebody else wrote most of it and I just stole it!

    As for the tower... it is a scary one, I

    have to admit, but you just have to try and block the fear out. The place is in quite good condition, and apart from a small hole in the roof is quite well

    sealed, meaning the steps aren't rotten or anything.

    Believe it or not, I'm scared of flying! I have real issues with it, but I seem to be able to

    do this kind of thing. But it was a relief to get back on the ground, I can tell you!!
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  6. #6
    scouserdave
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    Wow! What a fantastic place to explore Snappel. Thanks for

    the pics!

  7. #7
    Otterspool Onomatopoeia Max's Avatar
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    That would of been so cool to look down like that!
    Gididi Gididi Goo.

  8. #8

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    Well done snappel. Well taken photographs of a very interesting place.

  9. #9
    Per Ardua Ad Astra bazzacat's Avatar
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    A colleague of mine here at Chester City Council is the "Historic Interpretation Officer" and waxes

    lyrical about sites like this! Ill show him the pics, he will love them

  10. #10

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    Well, what a wonderful place to explore. I think it is more interesting.l

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