Chester Lead Works

The shot tower at Chester lead works was erected in 1800 by Walkers, Parker and Co. to produce lead shot, its now the only shot tower left in the country.

Visited with Jaff and TnM. Me and Jaff climbed about half way up this beast but abandonded the climb for safety reasons as it really is dodgy on them walkways and one slip and its all over, if anyone is going to climb this I would advize safety equipment, ie. harness and rope etc.

havoc said:

its now the only shot tower left in the country.

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No... it isn't.

There's one in London



and one in Bristol



It's the only one still vaguely industrial looking though.

King Al said:

whats it for?

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It says in the very first sentence of the thread...?

You drop droplets of molten lead from the top, and by the time it hits the bottom it's cooled into perfectly formed solid round balls of lead.

Safety reasons?? Those ladders are tough as nails!!

Good effort anyway - I'm amazed more people haven't made the effort to get there.

krela said:

You drop droplets of molten lead from the top, and by the time it hits the bottom it's cooled into perfectly formed solid round balls of lead.

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Ahh, cool, I wondered how it worked

snappel said:

Safety reasons?? Those ladders are tough as nails!!

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I was thinking that too, they certainly look sturdy enough, unless the camera doesn't show rotton supports.

Nice looking location though.

Very nice, really like the pics looking up the tower. still gives me vertigo tho, looks huge.

Cheers,

Sal

I actually found this place to be pretty boring, then again, I'm not the climbing type. Was interesting looking up for the first couple of minutes, then I'd exhausted everything the tower had to offer. Probably more to it if you have a head for heights.

Good on you two for climbing as high as you did, though.

TnM

ThenewMendoza said:

I actually found this place to be pretty boring, then again, I'm not the climbing type. Was interesting looking up for the first couple of minutes, then I'd exhausted everything the tower had to offer. Probably more to it if you have a head for heights.

Good on you two for climbing as high as you did, though.

TnM

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Really, I live in chester and recon the place is great, Fun climb and at the top the furnace is still in place that heated the lead, it really is the best explore in town!

Reaperman said:

Really, I live in chester and recon the place is great, Fun climb and at the top the furnace is still in place that heated the lead, it really is the best explore in town!

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Like I said, I don't have a head for heights!! Think the best explore in town is the asylum, no scary heights there.

TnM

Nice one Krela, Seems the site i got the info from was very very wrong lol.

Snappel, Tough as nails you say, ill take your word for it, looked very dodgy the higher you got, cant believe you climbed them ladders, crazy lol.

No head for heights myself but enjoyed looking at the photos and reading about the history. Never knew that was how lead shot was made! The factory part is a rather nice looking building too.

krela said:

It says in the very first sentence of the thread...?

You drop droplets of molten lead from the top, and by the time it hits the bottom it's cooled into perfectly formed solid round balls of lead.

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The molten lead was poured through a mesh and depending on the size of the holes, different size droplets were formed. The reason for doing from such a height is that the lead droplets will become spherical on their way down and cool enough to retain their shape when they hit the cooling medium at the bottom.

Good stuff, is Chester a poon haven like Hollioaks leads us to believe? lol

Great effort. The ladders inside the tower look crazy! Respect for making the decision not to chance it (however tempting it may have been to continue upwards!). Everyone has their own opinion about what looks safe and what looks dodgy. Only you can decide! Looks interesting. Amazing to think that tower's been standing for over 200 years!
Enjoyed looking through these

Lb

Taken from McCormick architecture web site.

"PLANNING PERMISSION GIVEN FOR HISTORIC SHOT TOWER SITE

Full detailed planning permission has been granted for a development on the site of Chester’s canal side Grade II Listed Lead Shot Tower. Designed by Chester-based McCormick Architecture for Property Regeneration Chester Ltd, the plans incorporate the tower within a scheme of 33 one and two-bedroomed apartments, a element of which will be affordable housing, and 23,000 square feet of offices, commercial and café space, as well as parking and landscaping.

Chester’s lead works were established in the late 18th Century to manufacture shot for British muskets during the Napoleonic Wars and shot manufacture continued on the site until 1986 when the works closed down. Chester’s Lead Shot Tower is the only remaining historic shot tower in the UK.

The site is also of local importance as at 51.2 metres (168 feet) it is currently the highest structure in Chester, being slightly taller than the Town Hall tower, which stands at 160 feet tall.

Commented Gavin Raw, Managing Director of Property Regeneration Chester Ltd, “We have been working with McCormick Architecture, local planners and the council’s Conservation department for some time to achieve plans for a development that will be a positive addition to the historic Lead Shot Tower and the canal side, so we are delighted to have gained planning permission.”

Said Sean McCormick of McCormick Architecture, “This site already had outline approval for development and we have designed a new scheme in a more sympathetic way to respect the existing listed buildings and provide more dynamic office accommodation.."



The works yard today.



The tower today. With hordings all the way round. I love the bright blue really in keeping with the area.

The tower at night.

Excellent. Glad they're keeping the tower. Hope the end product is in keeping with the site as it is now

Cheers,

Sal

magmo said:

The tower at night.

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Nice image. Groovy.