Once a common sight, mill chimneys often needed maintenance and repair. Steeplejacks G Reed and Sons took care of the chimneys and churches in Preston. In 1925 they issued a promotional brochure... 🏭
Once a common sight, mill chimneys often needed maintenance and repair. The job of steeplejack – made famous by Bolton’s Fred Dibnah – continued on into the 1970s. G Reed and Sons took care of the chimneys and churches in Preston. In 1925 they issued a promotional brochure. This showed the work that they undertook, which included the steeple of St Walburge’s Church – hence the name steeplejack.Tulketh Mill chimney was shortened and repaired by G Reed in 1925.
The 1925 repairs involved taking down the enormous iron cap and shortening the chimney by 45 feet. In the modern image you can see the reduced height and the rather odd modern cap.Why were mill chimneys so tall? The main reason was to create as much ‘draw’ as possible for the steam engine boiler. This drew in more oxygen through the fire and created more power. There was also a need to prevent smoke from reaching the ground before it could be dissipated.
The church was threatened with closure in 2007. However due to its architectural interest a stay of seven years was given. In 2014 a foundation was established to raise funds and maintain the building. The spire was repaired by G Reed in 1908 and more extensively in 1924/1925. Harrison Myers Architect and surveyor for Preston complimented G Reed on his magnificent scaffolding for this job.
The spire was also inspected by Fred Dibnah in 2000 for the series Fred Dibnah’s Magnificent Monuments; it was one of his last jobs.
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