Depth Of Foundations Of Blackpool Tower ????

[Gizmonster]

I remember a while ago, someone telling me that the depth of the foundations of Blackpool Tower, are twice as deep as the height of the tower above the ground ..... but I really can't see that ...... foundations of over 300m deep in the 1890's - I think not ??
I've tried doing a search, but nothing comes up .....anyone any ideas please ??

[DJHawkes]

the legs of the tower are exposed in the circus, i know because i've sat next to them!
I've always thought it was on a base as opposed to foundations.

[shoota]

I thought it was built on rock - pink spearmint.....

[Buenchico]

It seems that they just laid down some very big chunks of concrete. From the Liverpool Mercury of Tuesday, 15th May, 1894:
"The foundations of the Blackpool Tower, which are great blocks of concrete 40 feet square by 12 feet thick, were constructed during the winter of 1891-92"
http://www.amounderness.co.uk/blackpool_tower_opens_1894.html

However cotton bales seem to be involved too!
"The Tower is built on a foundation of cotton bales, to ensure flexibility in high winds"
http://www.wardsbookofdays.com/14may.htm

[Mamyalynne]

Not sure on depth, but interesting fact here

On 19th February 1891, the Blackpool Tower Company Limited was registered. The company purchased the land and laid out foundations. The Tower is built on a foundation of cotton bales, to ensure flexibility in high winds, and to ensure that in the unlikely event, Heaven forbid, that the Tower should topple, then it would land safely in the chilly waters of the Irish Sea.


http://www.wardsbookofdays.com/14may.htm

[Mamyalynne]

LOL snap!

[Buenchico]

Ooh, snap!

[shoota]

On 19th February 1891, the Blackpool Tower Company Limited was registered. The company purchased the land and laid out foundations. The Tower is built on a foundation of cotton bales, to ensure flexibility in high winds, and to ensure that in the unlikely event, Heaven forbid, that the Tower should topple, then it would land safely in the chilly waters of the Irish Sea. On 29th September 1891, the foundation stone was laid, at a ceremony attended by luminaries from the borough and from numerous other northern towns.

Thats from here:
http://www.wardsbookofdays.com/14may.htm

[DJHawkes]

well, with the width of the prom and allowing for the tide being in it would partly land in the irish sea i guess, if it blew inland though, as winds tend to do, it would fall on whsmith

[shoota]

Snap snap..

[Mamyalynne]

Hat trick!!

[DJHawkes]

well at least we know google works lol

[shoota]

LOL:
Blackpool Tower "sinking"



Blackpool, England, Friday - The most famous landmark in the North of England, the Blackpool Tower, has been sinking at the rate of half an inch (125mm) a year since 1997 it was announced today. A spokesperson for the owners assured members of the public that the tower is perfectly safe and that contingency plans have been made to arrest the slow disappearance of the Tower into the Blackpool sea front.

Structural engineers, called in to attempt to discover the reason for the Tower's recent behaviour have made a startling find. Working with experts from the University of Warwick, they have discovered that downward movement of the Tower can almost certainly be put down to fat kids and their families using the facilities. "The Tower was built at a time when the average weight of the population was about two thirds of its current average." said Mr Eddie Ryan, Chief Engineer. "The weight of thousands of visitors at a time being present in the Tower is just one of the factors taken into consideration in the design".

[Gizmonster]

Cheers for the answers peeps - I'd already found the info about the cotton bales (??) and it being on a huge base, bit I would have thought that it would have been sunk into the ground some distance (however small that may be) ... but I can't find a reference or any mention of any depth anywhere ......

[Gizmonster]

Lol yea - read that one as well Shoota - that made me giggle :P

[Dodger666]

shoota

You meant the tower is sinking 12.5mm/year, 125mm is 5 inches.