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Peter Tatham Steeplejack 1976

In September 1976 I photographed Rochdale steeplejack, Peter Tatham, ladder and then demolish the 150 foot (46 metre) chimney of the former Salford city incinerator.

With a hole cut in the chimney's side at the bottom so that rubble could be removed, Peter worked his way down the stack. Sitting astride the wall he took it apart piece by piece, dropping sections of cast iron and brickwork down inside the shaft.

See My Best Shot, The Guardian, 27 April 2022

"It's a job like this," said Tatham. "If you're workin' up there, you need to have done the labourin' job to understand what the labourer's doin' down there and what you want him to do.

"The first time or two were a bit uncomfortable, 'cos they stuck me up a big 'un down in Rochdale first time, in winter. I got under the head and I came back down again. I couldn't feel me bloody finger ends, you know?"

See video  r/t 1 min., 6 sec.

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Bodleian Libraries Links >
Disused incinerator chimney, prior to demolition, Salford. September 1976
With the first ladder in place, Peter hammers in a ‘dog’ to begin fixing the second ladder. September 1976
Laddering prior to demolition. Half way up. September 1976
Laddering almost complete, as seen from the point-of-view of the steeplejack’s assistant. September 1976
Looking up at the oversailer from just beneath the lower string course. Ladders are all in place with lashings clearly visible. September 1976
Peter stands on the oversailer while completing laddering prior to demolition. September 1976
Prior to demolition the laddering is done. Here, 150 feet up, we see the top of the eleventh ladder, complete with lashings. September 1976
Atop the stack during demolition. September 1976
150 feet up, atop of the stack and shortly after starting the demolition process, Peter Tatham steeplejack poses for his portrait. September 1976

 

Back to Weldone Boiler Fluers 1976-77, Peter Tatham Steeplejack 1976

Bodleian Libraries Links

Bodleian Libraries | Archive of Daniel Meadows, photographer and social documentarist (CMD ID 12752, 17418, 17823, 18768) | Photographer-in-residence to the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, Jun 1975-4 Sep 2020 | Peter Tatham, Steeplejack, 1976-1977

Meadows' photographic archive of negatives and contact sheets, 1969-1986, Nov 2014 | Negatives and contact sheets 06, Aug-Sep 1976

 

Also:
Negatives and contact sheets 07, Sep-Dec 1976

Negatives and contact sheets 19, Jul-Nov 1979


And:
Digitised audio of interview with Peter Tatham, steeplejack, during Meadows time as photographer-in-residence in the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, originally recorded 2 Dec 1976, 3 Sep 2020

 

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Contact Daniel Meadows

Email: daniel@photobus.co.uk

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