arrow The Westmorland Gazette arrow 09 Nov 1844 arrow 09 November 1844 Fall of High Chimney
09 November 1844 Fall of High Chimney Print E-mail
The chimney of the chemical works, of MESSRS. TENANTS, CLOW, and Co., at
Ardwick-bridge, having for some time past shown a leaning to one side, it
had been determined to take it down.  When the late high south-easterly
winds came, and during the night of Friday last, affected it so much, that
on the men coming to work on Saturday morning about six o'clock, its fall
was dreaded every moment.  It was found that about three feet only from the
ground, it was completely cracked across so that it was in imminent danger
of falling with the next gust of wind.

No time was lost;  MR. STATHAM, one of the partners, was soon on the spot,
and was joined shortly afterwards by MR. YOUNG, the manager of the works;
and the inmates of a number of cottages all round the chimney and within its
falling range, were promptly awakened, and removed, with their furniture and
moveables, to places of safety.

The horses were also removed from the adjacent stables, and all the workmen
were strictly enjoined not to approach that part of the premises.  All these
precautionary arrangements having been completed with great care and
promptitude, about nine o'clock the chimney at length fell, with a
tremendous crash, breaking through several buildings, all the inmates of
which had been removed, and crushing the arches over the river which had
been erected for the purposes of the works.

On the whole, damage was thus sustained to the extent, we are assured, of
about 1,000  l.;  but fortunately, though one individual had a very narrow
escape, no lives were lost - a result mainly attributable to the excellent
precautions taken by MR. STATHAM and MR. YOUNG.

We understand that this chimney was built about thirteen years ago, when the
works were in the occupation of MR. E. P. THOMPSON.  Its form was polygonal,
its height between forty and fifty yards.  Had it fallen during the night,
the loss of several lives would in all probability have been the
consequence.
 
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