First of all the answer to my question yesterday... what was the purpose of this tower?
It's a Shot Tower.
It was one of the earliest built to manufacture lead shot using the method pioneered in the 1780's by the Bristol inventor William Watts.
An early use of the tower was to make lead shot for muskets used during in the Napoleonic Wars.
An early use of the tower was to make lead shot for muskets used during in the Napoleonic Wars.
It's a Grade II listed building and stands beside the Shropshire Union Canal.
It formed part of the disused Chester Leadworks... built by Walkers, Parker and Co.
Molten lead was poured through a pierced copper plate or sieve at the top of the tower with the droplets forming perfect spheres by surface tension during the fall.
The spherical drops were then cooled in a vat of water at the base.
Other methods were developed to manufacture lead shot during the 20th century but this tower was still in use as late as 2001....Many thanks for all your guesses.
The spherical drops were then cooled in a vat of water at the base.
Other methods were developed to manufacture lead shot during the 20th century but this tower was still in use as late as 2001....Many thanks for all your guesses.
Now a new post for Sunday... Chester Cathedrals interior.
The west door of Chester Cathedral... pic taken from the top of St Werburgh Street.
It's worth a trip to Chester just to view the window above this entrance from inside... it's stunning!
The interior of the cathedral.
Parts of the building date back to 1093.
The west door window is so impressive.
Parts of the building date back to 1093.
This cropped image shows the detail... click on any of my images to view full screen.
The Cobweb Picture.
This little painting has always fascinated me since my childhood.
I have added a better image of the inscription below.
Click on the image to view it full size.
Regimental flags adorn the walls.
There is a remembrance garden to the 22nd Cheshire Regiment in the cathedral grounds.
In the cloisters is this memorial window dedicated to George Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine who both died attempting to climb Mount Everest in 1924... many people think they reached the summit and perished on their way down... Mallory's body was discovered in 1999.
George Mallory was from Mobberley in Cheshire just four stops down the line from home in the opposite direction to my train journey to Chester.
The weather has been a bit chillier today but still beautiful sunshine...
...winters return has been forecast for tomorrow.
I don't care as I am back at work.
The weather has been a bit chillier today but still beautiful sunshine...
...winters return has been forecast for tomorrow.
I don't care as I am back at work.
18 comments:
that ceiling is so ornate. love the stained glass 'wall' of windows.
shot tower? yeah. wouldn't have known that in a dozen lifetimes...
the trouble man kind goes to in order to build killing material. this is amazing to me and all new to me also. there has got to be a better word than stunning for the insides of the cathedral. thank you so much for the inside view. the outside is stunning also for want of a better word. i can only imagine how it feels to stand in that magnificence.
Great post Andrew, full of interesting info and beautiful photos. I am reading a book about the late 1700's in America. Some fascinating stuff in there. I think since my trip to Philadelphia, it has awakened my interest in American history and learning something of my own too. One of the reasons I enjoyed this post so much. Thank you!
Great photos, Andrew. Love the cathedral the inside is just awesome.
I was way off at my guess! Thank you so much for showing the interior of the cathedral, it is magnificent! Beauty such as this is something that I will never be able to see in my lifetime.
Thanks for the history Andrew.
What an amazing place to worship in! Also, would never have guessed the tower in a million years - the shot certainly had to drop a long way. Wonder how they found out how the process worked - they wouldn't have built it on the off-chance!
That stained glass is something special, excellent work capturing it Andrew.
Shaun
Valleys ShutterBug
OH I was way off on my guess...Lovely interiors!!
I wouldn't have guessed Napoleonic wars! The cathedral is absolutely magnificent!
Oh...so that was the purpose!!! I would never guess...
And all the photos...fabulous: the colors...the shapes..the angle...marvelous, indeed!
KISS YOU.And admire you.
BShell
This is beautiful ... lovely pictures of the cathedral.
A shot tower; hadn't heard of them before. How amazing the technique you described. OH the walls and vaulted ceiling is breathtaking; what a moment to step inside there Drew. I'd have had to back up to a pillar or pew to look up for the shot you took. The stained glass is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing your day out; keep warm!
Chester is such an attractive city.
What a glorious gothic cathedral!, makes me wish I could cross all the seas to see it for myself.
Thank you for your visits to my blog while I have been 'away' . . . hugs . . . Arija
I'm awed by the magnificence of the cathedral. Your shots of the stained glass are beautiful.
Great images and a wonderful cathedral! I'm glad i scrolled down your blog a little further :)
Wow, beautiful photos, thanks for sharing this.
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