… of the cooling towers
On Friday I climbed the Wrekin Hill, as did many other local people. The Wrekin was a good vantage point to watch the controlled demolition of the iconic cooling towers that have been prominent in the Ironbridge Gorge since the 1960s.
I am sad to see them go, they were part of our industrial history. The valley will not be replanted with trees but filled with houses, so not really an improvement to the landscape.
The photos of the towers collapsing were taken by Mr C, I just wanted to soak up the atmosphere of the historic moment in time.
The Cooling Towers, “we are not crying, you are crying”.
Every end is a new beginning.
It would be nice if the new beginning was trees rather than houses.
The cooling towers were much cooler than a large housing estate in the middle of the valley.
A change in time…Hopeful someone document this and take it to local musuem.
It is well documented
It’s amazing how these cooling towers come down … it is a sight to see, but so often a sad sight.
I wish they would plant some trees where they stood …
All the best Jan
I wouldn’t have been so sad about them coming down if the area was going to be repopulated with trees. The valley needs trees not houses but I suppose there is no profit in planting trees…
“There’s always been a photographer
To record the happy scene”
[Chorus]
“Hold it, flash, bang, wallop, what a picture
What a picture, what a photograph
Poor old towers, blimey what a joke
All blown up in a cloud of smoke
Clap hands, stamp your feet
Banging on the big bass drum
What a picture, what a picture
Um-tiddly-um-pum-um-pum-pum
Stick it in your family album”
HaHa, it is long time since I heard that one
But it still holds true
Historic shots. We need housing – and today’s estates aren’t as bad as yesterday’s (which too many people are still living in). I have never climbed The Wrekin – that ‘to visit’ list never gets any shorter!
I live on an estate and it is lovely. In my area the estates they build are not nearly as nice as where I live. The road infrastructure in the area will need careful planning as it leads to a tourist area which is busy in summer.
You should climb the Wrekin with the remains of a hill fort and bronze aged barrows. The nearby Ercall woods are also well worth a visit for their geological features.
This route was written a few years ago and needs checking for current access but the history remains
And recently restored is the Wrekin Halfway House providing refreshments at certain times of day. This is a lovely memory brought back to life for me
It won’t quite be the same without seeing the towers when on the way to Ironbridge.
I’ve yet to climb The Wrekin, but I have driven around it (and what a journey that was!).
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you too xx
You really should experience the Wrekin climb at least once