Iconic chimneys rebuild complete

Battersea Power Station’s four iconic chimneys have been rebuilt using the same construction technique as when they first graced London’s skyline. Since the first pour on May 14th 2015, nearly 25,000 wheelbarrow loads of concrete have been hand-poured into the chimneys that each stand 51 metres tall. Rather than use a hose to pour the concrete, it was decided to replicate the original construction methods and 680 tonnes of concrete was lifted in a hoist to the top of the chimney, transferred into wheelbarrows and then hand poured into the structures.

The rings that can be seen around the new chimneys, and that could also be seen around the old ones, are formed by using a ‘Jump Form’ shuttering method. Using steel and timber, the metal rings are filled with concrete then moved up and filled again.

Overall, the hoist has travelled the equivalent of 21 miles, lifting the concrete to the eight workers waiting on boards high above the ground.

The original chimneys, two were built in the 1930s and the second pair in the 1950s, had to be demolished as they were deemed unsafe because they were badly crumbling after so many years.

The north-east and south-west chimneys will still be used as chimneys for the new energy centre that will provide heating and cooling to the development with water vapour being released from their flues.

The north-west chimney is the last to be finished.