Whitehaven Candlestick Chimney/Vent

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Kingfisher60024
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Out of curiosity.

Does the candlestick chimney still vent mine gases or has it been capped/replaced with a more modern alternative?

There is a story that it caught fire in the 1990s due to lightning.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Rob

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Buckhill
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

It still vents. The venting is "modern" dating from when No.3 shaft was capped in 1969. A valved pipe was laid from below the cap to the boiler flue drift at the chimney base.

Kingfisher60024
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Thanks very much, I thought it might be something like that but wasn't sure. Definitely an unusual feature and interesting that it still serves a purpose.

Rob

russnp
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

So the shaft under it is still there but capped?

Buckhill
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Yes, No. 3 shaft was not filled, only capped, as it was chosen to be the vent point following the re-organisation after Lowca closed in 1968. It's 12 feet diameter and about 620 feet to the Main Band horizon. As it was sunk on the site of the original boiler house it was just as easy - and more aesthetically pleasing - to lead the vent pipe into the flue drift than put a big green pipe on top of the shaft.

crickleymal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

I was told about it catching fire by the guys in the now closed (?) Haig mining museum. The fire brigade had to hose down the outside of the stack to stop it crumbling with the heat.

Malc.
Rusted and ropey, Dog eared old copy
Vintage and classic or just plain Jurassic
All words to describe me.

legendrider
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

a Roman Candlestick Chimney :o

MARK

festina lente[i]

Buckhill
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

They were only hosing down the outside because most of the water didn't reach the top;)

Seems there was some confusion when the chimney passed from NCB to the council. Either someone forgot to explain the set up or it wasn't fully taken in by them. As when it fired a couple of times previously the simple solution was just to close the valve under the plate on the cap until the flames died off, wait a few hours then reopen it.

I don't know what will happen when, or even if, it fires again as, according to someone " in the know" the valve is reputedly seized. Against this he says the emissions here and at the other associated vents are much lower nowadays.