Tower Works, Holbeck

[chottish]

The decorative chimneys of this place loom over the riverside areas of Leeds, in particular around the train station, Wellington Street and Holbeck areas. This historic factory revolutionised the manufacture of pins, and set the international standard for their production, which is probably more important than it sounds.

We gained access quite easily, but didn't exactly pass unnoticed, as we were greeted by a rather friendly and excitable chap called Zeus. Luckily he took an interest in what we were doing, and his handler allowed us to take a few shots of the place Unfortunately exploring inside the buildings was out of the question, but it seems worthwhile sharing a few photos.

The largest tower, based on the Giotto bell tower in Florence, and skeleton of scaffolding holding up the shell of the buildings on the perimiter of the site.

The second tower, based on Verona's Lamberti Tower

Another view of the Giotto Tower

The Giotto and Lamberti towers, with what i'm sure will be the charming and characterful Bridgewater Place in the background.

Some workshops in the grounds, not particularly distinctive i know.

The site has apparently been bought by Yorkshire Forward, the Yorkshire development agency, but what they want to use it for is unclear. apparently it will form the centre of a 'flagship cultural development' or something, so expect some coffee shops and a new outlet for abstract 'loft art' watercolours of dancing ladies and coffeepots soon.

 

[Jondoe_264]

They are a couple of rather fetching looking towers for certain! I remember reading up on these a while back when I was planning a draining trip to Leeds, I always look up a couple of topside things as well incase the draining is a wash out, as it happens the entire trip was a wash out. I'd be interested to know if they are accessible and what they like internally, wonder what sort of internal ladders/stairways/access there is? What's going on with the top of the larger one there? That scaffold around a flag pole?

JD

 

[chottish]

The scaffolding is a relatively recent addition, i really have no idea what it's for. it does rather spoil it's lines though. rick tells me that there are large underground tunnels to the towers (actually, he told commie daughter) which you can walk along, but they're full of needles-not the ones you usually find in abandoned buildings, this was a pin factory.
i don't know how much success you might have finding them though, we basically got in, turned the corner, went 'oooh', and then found the guard dog running around our legs and trying to lick our faces. it's not a particularly big site, so i don't know if commando-style tactics would be possible, however it does run alongside the water lane culvert, so there maybe some underground entrances...

 

[Bishop]

Sounds to me like you need a trip to your local records office,
most of them won't let you photocopy plans (but photographs
are normally permitted). Obviously I've no idea about your local
records office but Bristol's holds plans for pretty much everything
built after 1830.

B

 

[communist daughter]

frankly the idea of an undergound tunnel filled with needles rather puts me off...

 

[Bishop]

Take a big magnet and elastoplast?

 

[communist daughter]

i have actually got access to a foot wide major magnet (the joys of being a lab tech) but id want the needles to be going to the other direction rather than towards me....hmmm....

 

[rikj]

Surely just turn the magnet round and repel all the needles cd? No security guard will stand in your way then!

As far as I know the towers weren't chimneys but were to get a good draw of air to clear the dust from the grinding shops. Got the story of the tunnels off our roofer who worked there, so must be within living memory.

I think you probably saw most of what there is left to see there, and at least you crossed the line and got in.

 

[communist daughter]

hmmmm well the problem with magnets is they tend to only repell other magnets and then only the opposite polarity so unless i went round every single needle in the place and rubbed it with the magnet to turn them into magnets and worked out the polarity...even then it would be touch and go!!

yeah we were still happy with our visit and didnt mind being 'caught', the guy was confused but nice and i think he was just glad we werent the usual type of trespassers, i.e junkies. And i was sooooooo happy to get to play with his dog as my alsation has been really ill of late so it was extra nice for me. Also personally the 'escaping security' aspect of this kind of thing completely sets my nerves on edge and i dont like it so much so it was very relieving not to have to be sneaking about.