A UK demolition company celebrated its 49th birthday with a successful chimney blowdown.
At 10 am on Sunday 5 April 2009, Widnes-based J Bryan (Victoria) Ltd, successfully demolished the redundant 105 metre-high, reinforced concrete chimney stack at The Hanson Castle Cement Plant in Clitheroe, Lancashire. The demolition of the 2,500 ton structure made a good ending to the week in which the company celebrated its 49th birthday.
The stack was dropped into a confined area defined by buildings and live plant, and only minor damage to two cladding sheets was reported. The demolitions generated around 400 tons of asbestos for landfill, 11,000 tons of scrap metal and 5,000 tons of concrete for recycling. The removal of the chimney will be welcomed in the Ribble Valley, a beautiful rural area in North East Lancashire.
Thousands of spectators watched the event both from the viewing areas at the site, and from on top of the nearby Pendle Hill, reputed to be the home of the Pendle witches.
The project was the latest in a long list for this client that has seen J Bryan (Victoria) Ltd demolish three stacks, five kilns and other structures, at two factories during the last two and a half years.
