I think the construction of medieval castles and cathedrals is much more remarkable than the building of mills and chimneys in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Wish there were some videos to go with that, but I guess there's always YouTube
Yeah, I'm sure there will be some vids out there on this stuff. Some of these building methods are still used in the poorer parts of the world.
Oh, and there were covered briefly in the civil engineering module I did on my engineering course at uni. It was very interesting finding out how the different construction materials work.
I think the construction of medieval castles and cathedrals is much more remarkable than the building of mills and chimneys in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Yes, some people would spend their entire working lives on the construction of a cathedral, and usually a couple of generations. Now we can put up a building on that scale in a few years.
How about all those ancient Greek and Roman temples for eg?
The Parthenon in Athens was built in about 440BC!
It lasted intact until the 17th century, when it was partially destroyed by a gunpowder explosion(it was being used as a store!).
Since been reconstructed I believe.
I think the construction of medieval castles and cathedrals is much more remarkable than the building of mills and chimneys in the 18th and 19th centuries.
seriously though, construction techniques and methods were one of those everyday things that no one though was important to record and document how it was done, especailly with the apprentice system where knowledge was passed down through the generations, anything better coming along simply replaced the old, and the old forgotten becuase it was not useful for anything.
Most of what we know about mundane everyday life in past centuries comes from just a few manuscripts and paintings of important people which include various background scenes showing the various activities for which the person is associated with, such as building work. Quite often these scences are not drawn to scale and look rather comical and so on and have therefore been often overlooked by historians as a source.
Reconstruction archaeology has made a number of interesting discoveries simply by reproducing the equipment shown in these images, a good example I recall off hand, although not related to architecture was to do with jousting, a comical image of people sitting on a wooden horse being towed along with rope with some guy looking through a wooden slat , once reconstructed it was demonstrated this was a perfect way to teach knights about balance acuracy and aiming.
ONe example of this in building industry is the treadmill crane, often seen in various pictures but not until recently understood until reconstructed, fortunatlly there is a wiki page dedicated to this contraption, saves me hunting for all the bits and bobs.
How did they lift all that stone (to that height) for the chimney ?
Absolutely amazing.
You should go to York Minster or Lincoln Cathederal. These are far more impressive. High cealings, arches and domes especially were technological feats. At the time Cthederals probably represented the pinacle of technology in Europe at the time. Like todays space shuttle or such I reckon.
Don't want to diss your choice of buildings but for the time they look well within their capabilities. I think they would have had steam engines by then to power cranes and winches and other equipment. Back in the medieval times it was man, horse or water power.
He used to ladder it single handed back in the day, and then climb free hand to the top, including the overhang of the ledge. Nerves of steel!
There was a rumour that when it was finished the owners of India Mills went to the top and walked round the parapet, but cannot find any evidence of that...
How about all those ancient Greek and Roman temples for eg?
The Parthenon in Athens was built in about 440BC!
It lasted intact until the 17th century, when it was partially destroyed by a gunpowder explosion(it was being used as a store!).
Since been reconstructed I believe.
Mills are being knocked down and they should all being preserved in East Lancashire .I think they are East Lancashire s heritage and i wonder why many have been allowed to become derilict .Similarly the fab mill towers - many have gone and its sad .The India Mills one is my favourite as its in Darwen .
Mills are being knocked down and they should all being preserved in East Lancashire .I think they are East Lancashire s heritage and i wonder why many have been allowed to become derilict .Similarly the fab mill towers - many have gone and its sad .The India Mills one is my favourite as its in Darwen .
Although the chimneys have been pulled down (presume for safety reasons), some of the Mills have been converted into flats, but they still look like a cotton mill from the outside...
Although the chimneys have been pulled down (presume for safety reasons), some of the Mills have been converted into flats, but they still look like a cotton mill from the outside...
Yes.India Mills is grade 2 listed and its said to be one of the best in the North West thats left .So its protected i guess unlike some of the smaller ones
Yes.India Mills is grade 2 listed and its said to be one of the best in the North West thats left .So its protected i guess unlike some of the smaller ones
It's now offices. Capita is based there and TV licensing.
How did they lift all that stone (to that height) for the chimney ?
Absolutely amazing.
Yes, amazing. Perhaps the most amazing of all is Stockport Viaduct, which has (or had) a complete five story mill or warehouse under its arches, with room to spare above - and below down to the river.
The scale of the thing when you are stood under it is staggering and i've often wondered how the hell they built the thing, waaaaay back in 1840. Then they went and did it again in 1890, doubling its width! 27 arches, 11 million bricks... :eek:
Comments
Thanks, L.
Wish there were some videos to go with that, but I guess there's always YouTube
Yeah, I'm sure there will be some vids out there on this stuff. Some of these building methods are still used in the poorer parts of the world.
Oh, and there were covered briefly in the civil engineering module I did on my engineering course at uni. It was very interesting finding out how the different construction materials work.
Yes, some people would spend their entire working lives on the construction of a cathedral, and usually a couple of generations. Now we can put up a building on that scale in a few years.
The Parthenon in Athens was built in about 440BC!
It lasted intact until the 17th century, when it was partially destroyed by a gunpowder explosion(it was being used as a store!).
Since been reconstructed I believe.
Like this?:)
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2991418734_8cacdf52e4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/wiltshire/interesting/&usg=__1Y8sjHT259Vp7p3lpJOGZujI_Tw=&h=404&w=500&sz=138&hl=en&start=64&zoom=1&tbnid=kzQrhc4S5dmSeM:&tbnh=166&tbnw=231&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsalisbury%2Bcathedral%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4RNWM_enGB315%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D505%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C2926&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=157&vpy=123&dur=2031&hovh=202&hovw=250&tx=154&ty=82&ei=qgMOTaPNKKWN4gbwjcSGAg&oei=XwMOTa_1JNGahQeBnd2nDA&esq=5&page=8&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:64&biw=1003&bih=505
The winch and machinery they used for the spire is still there.
Most of what we know about mundane everyday life in past centuries comes from just a few manuscripts and paintings of important people which include various background scenes showing the various activities for which the person is associated with, such as building work. Quite often these scences are not drawn to scale and look rather comical and so on and have therefore been often overlooked by historians as a source.
Reconstruction archaeology has made a number of interesting discoveries simply by reproducing the equipment shown in these images, a good example I recall off hand, although not related to architecture was to do with jousting, a comical image of people sitting on a wooden horse being towed along with rope with some guy looking through a wooden slat , once reconstructed it was demonstrated this was a perfect way to teach knights about balance acuracy and aiming.
ONe example of this in building industry is the treadmill crane, often seen in various pictures but not until recently understood until reconstructed, fortunatlly there is a wiki page dedicated to this contraption, saves me hunting for all the bits and bobs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadwheel_crane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tRcyXWn6yo
You should go to York Minster or Lincoln Cathederal. These are far more impressive. High cealings, arches and domes especially were technological feats. At the time Cthederals probably represented the pinacle of technology in Europe at the time. Like todays space shuttle or such I reckon.
Don't want to diss your choice of buildings but for the time they look well within their capabilities. I think they would have had steam engines by then to power cranes and winches and other equipment. Back in the medieval times it was man, horse or water power.
It's the chimney for India Mills in Darwen Lancashire, Fred Dibnah did some repairs on it a few years ago.
It's India Mill Chimney in Darwen, Lancashire.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/articles/2008/03/18/history_india_mill_feature.shtml
He used to ladder it single handed back in the day, and then climb free hand to the top, including the overhang of the ledge. Nerves of steel!
There was a rumour that when it was finished the owners of India Mills went to the top and walked round the parapet, but cannot find any evidence of that...
The Colosseum - The Pyramids - Stonehenge.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R3-YwDZrzg
As a Grade A coward when it comes to ladders, it's not exactly something I would like to do!
Although the chimneys have been pulled down (presume for safety reasons), some of the Mills have been converted into flats, but they still look like a cotton mill from the outside...
That gave me the shivers
Yes.India Mills is grade 2 listed and its said to be one of the best in the North West thats left .So its protected i guess unlike some of the smaller ones
It's now offices. Capita is based there and TV licensing.
Yes, amazing. Perhaps the most amazing of all is Stockport Viaduct, which has (or had) a complete five story mill or warehouse under its arches, with room to spare above - and below down to the river.
The scale of the thing when you are stood under it is staggering and i've often wondered how the hell they built the thing, waaaaay back in 1840. Then they went and did it again in 1890, doubling its width! 27 arches, 11 million bricks... :eek:
http://jpgmag.com/photos/2083488
We were all swinging from trees and throwing poo at each other before google.