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Let’s start from the beginning. We call “Tall Chimney” a Chimney that is taller than 100 metres.
The first chimney that was taller than 100 metres happened to be in Glasgow.
Let’s see how it happened.
In 1800 Charles Tennant, a 32 years old Scottish chemist and industrialist, founded a chemical works at St.Rollox, Glasgow. The principle product being bleaching powder (calcium hypochlorite), which was sold worldwide. By 1815 the business was known as Charles Tennant & Co. and had expanded into other chemicals, metallurgy and explosives. The early rail network in Scotland and important mines in Spain were also areas of interest.
The St. Rollox plant grew to be the largest chemical works in the world during the 1830s and 1840s. It covers over 100 acres (0.4 km2) and had 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of floor space. It had a payroll of over one thousand persons and dominated the local economy.
The huge chimney known as the St. Rollox Stalk aka Tennant’s Stalk towered over everything. It was a well-known landmark around Glasgow. Built in 1842, it rose a majestic 435.5 feet (132.7 m) in the air. It was 40 feet (12.2 m) in diameter at ground level. In 1922 it was struck by lightning and had to be dynamited down, but until that time it was in daily use. R.I.P.
The “Gallowgate Twins” shortly after their completion in 1968.
These flats stand as the two tallest buildings in Scotland and are a brilliant example of the many Brutalist buildings in Glasgow.
(via terraced)
WH Smith, Glasgow Central Station
Main concourse, Glasgow Central Rail Station
Banking hall, National Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, 1901.
Glasgow School of Art, building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Banqueting Hall, Glasgow City Chambers - via upload.wikimedia.org
Ground floor loggia, Glasgow City Chambers - via upload.wikimedia.org
