I visited Tower works for a day and nocturnal visit. Awwrisp and Ultrix A.K.A Spiderman joined me for the nocturnal trip. The heavens opened scuppering plans for the 'up chimney' shots!
Here's some history of the place.
Tower Works factory at Globe Road opened in 1864. The design of the new factory was heavily influenced by Colonel Thomas Harding's love for Italian architecture. The most notable features of Tower Works are the three towers that served as chimneys for the gill-pin factory. The largest and most ornate tower is based on the iconic Giotto campanile in Florence. The smaller ornate tower is based on the Lamberti Tower in Verona. A third plain tower was built in 1919 and represents a Tuscan tower house. All three are listed structures, the two ornate towers being Grade II * and the plain tower Grade II.
The design for the Giotto Tower included ventilation systems that were way ahead of their time in terms of minimising pollution from the steel works. The chimney incorporated a filter to retrieve the excess steel dust from the production process.
A real piece of Leeds Industrial revolution to be found in this magnificent tiled engine room.
Colonel Thomas Harding founder of Tower works.
Sir Richard Arkwright is considered the father of the modern industrial factory system; his inventions were a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution.
If the Italian influenced chimneys of Tower works aren't good enough for you, there is the Egyptian influenced Temple mills a 100yds away for added bonus.
Temple Works in Holbeck, Leeds is based on the Temple of Horus at Edfu, with a chimney designed in the style of an obelisk and its facade reflecting John Marshall's ardent interest in Egyptology.
When the building was first created it was said to be the largest single room in the world. The roof was covered in grass to to retain humidity and prevent the linen thread from drying out and becoming unmanageable. Sheep really did graze on the roof to keep the grass short. Temple works is a grade one listed structure.
The rest of the Tower works set is here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/sets/72157606796441709/detail/
Here's some history of the place.
Tower Works factory at Globe Road opened in 1864. The design of the new factory was heavily influenced by Colonel Thomas Harding's love for Italian architecture. The most notable features of Tower Works are the three towers that served as chimneys for the gill-pin factory. The largest and most ornate tower is based on the iconic Giotto campanile in Florence. The smaller ornate tower is based on the Lamberti Tower in Verona. A third plain tower was built in 1919 and represents a Tuscan tower house. All three are listed structures, the two ornate towers being Grade II * and the plain tower Grade II.
The design for the Giotto Tower included ventilation systems that were way ahead of their time in terms of minimising pollution from the steel works. The chimney incorporated a filter to retrieve the excess steel dust from the production process.
A real piece of Leeds Industrial revolution to be found in this magnificent tiled engine room.
Colonel Thomas Harding founder of Tower works.
Sir Richard Arkwright is considered the father of the modern industrial factory system; his inventions were a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution.
If the Italian influenced chimneys of Tower works aren't good enough for you, there is the Egyptian influenced Temple mills a 100yds away for added bonus.
Temple Works in Holbeck, Leeds is based on the Temple of Horus at Edfu, with a chimney designed in the style of an obelisk and its facade reflecting John Marshall's ardent interest in Egyptology.
When the building was first created it was said to be the largest single room in the world. The roof was covered in grass to to retain humidity and prevent the linen thread from drying out and becoming unmanageable. Sheep really did graze on the roof to keep the grass short. Temple works is a grade one listed structure.
The rest of the Tower works set is here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/sets/72157606796441709/detail/
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