Yesterday Mr C and I had an afternoon in Ironbridge so that I could photograph the iconic cooling towers from Dale End Park. They are scheduled for demolition at the end of this week. I wasn’t the only one taking photos, many others had the same idea. I could tell that some of the photographers with their exclamations of how large they were had never stood beneath the towers before.
After our walk along the river bank we drove towards Buildwas and the elevated viewpoints at the bend of the River Severn which I always refer to as ‘The Oxbow’. From those viewpoints the cooling towers and the power station can be seen clearly in their woodland setting. Once again I wasn’t the only one to stop and take photos from those viewpoints.
The towers were built with concrete mixed with a red pigment to allow them to blend in with the local soil and as a photographer and walker I have always loved the cooling towers (although not the power station buildings). Within the valley they tease the eye, sometimes they are there and sometimes they are hidden from view. Soon to be a memory…
I have written previously about the care that was taken to blend the power station into the landscape. You can find my post here and in the comments section my personal opinion about what I would have liked to happen to this industrial site.
Here in Berks, we had Didcot cooling towers which were blow ‘up’ or ‘down’ depending on your view. To me they were a landmark when driving around the area. A sort of navigational aid similar to how our ancestors used Church spires. Of course, we now all have SatNavs but I agree a lot of the demolition of industrial heritage is sad. (Especially if like me you are not entirely convinced that coal burning power stations are a bad thing?)
We hope to go up the Wrekin on demolition day so that we can see the historic moment. Knowing our luck it will be covered in cloud!
I agree they are a good navigational aid. Opinion has always been divided on whether they were an eyesore or not and whether they should stay or go…
you put together a good presentation about the cooling towers Cherie… i like your sunset with the reflection on the Bow River….peter:)
Thank you
loved knowing about cooling tower dear Cheri as thing was totally unknown to me
images are BREATHTAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you xx
Why can’t we keep them?
Surely someone with some brilliant idea can turn into into hotels, rock climbing facility centre or both?
‘Why can’t we keep them’
I suspect it is all down to money. More money can be made by selling of the land to a property developer.
They are gone now and for me it was a sad moment seeing the towers fall.
I love London Caller’s idea! What a unique hotel site that would be.
It would have been fun, but it was not to be :’‑(
It’s on the news today!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-shropshire-50686225/ironbridge-power-station-cooling-towers-brought-down
Can’t find you in the crowd though? Did you go picking up the bricks?
I was on top of the Wrekin looking down
There were no bricks, as mentioned above the towers were constructed of concrete. Modern journalism does not rely on proper research and factual reporting.
*sighs*