Chester Lead Works
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Chester Lead Works is one of Chesters most iconic landmarks. It was established by Walkers, Parker and Co. in the late 18th century.
The shot tower would drop molten lead which forms lead shot as it cooled on its way down. The tower is apparently one of only three left in the country, the other two are in Bristol and London.
The manufacturing of lead shot using the 'drop process' was patented by William Watts (a Bristol plumber) in 1782. He had realised that if molten lead fell far enough through the air it would become spherical.
This would be a signicant improvement on the shape and quality of shot produced through casting the typical manufacturing technique of the time, which was also highly labour intensive. Lead shot towers are a highly specialised form of industrial building designed especially for the process of lead shot.
The shot tower was erected in 1800 less than 20 years after the drop process for manufacturing shot was patented by William Watts. The site is therefore unique in Britain and can be considered of both national and international importance as being the founding country for inventing the lead shot process.
Today the majority of the lead works are now home to a new residential housing estate. The Lead Shot Tower remains along with the core of site. The Shot Tower is now a Grade II listed building.
O2 currently use the tower as a platform for there mobile phone masts to cover Chesters city centre, but apart from that the rest of the site is bare.
Upon seeing this tower you are instantly impressed by its appearance and the imposing shadow it casts over the surrounding buildings. It almost consumes the landscape it sits upon.
When we arrived we had high hopes of scalling the tower and expected a fair bit too see. Sadly this wasnt the case, inside is completely bare and the tower itself is rather dangerous.
Jaff Fox and myself started our ascent whilst TnM watched in fear but after venturing half way up the beast we decided to come back down as the walk ways are dangerous to say the least. Rusted beyond belief with hand rails missing and ladders that can only be described as lethal.
With out proper safety equipment you really are dicing with death here. A cool place but one that needs to be attempted with safety in mind.
