Scary stuff

Yesterday, two holes were punched high up in the southern wall for temporary steel supports (below) for the soon to be unsupported wall beneath the southern end of the tank.

Even with 21st century equipment the stones took some removing.

Merlo the lifter was back in action, here seen raising the 300 kg steel beam that will eventually support that wall when the masonry is removed to make way for the glass screen wall.

The 300 kg beam now rests on the scaffolding whilst the second temporary steel beam is inched towards the second of the two holes made earlier. Tomorrow may see the removal of the stone below - I say 'may' because the sheer strength of the building is making it exceedingly difficult to remove every single stone. How incredibly sad that the other seven of these amazing towers on the S&C were demolished - presumably with great difficulty.

I must pay tribute to our builders Kilburn and Johnson who are tackling these jobs with resourcefulness and enthusiasm.   Carl Johnson is in charge of Merlo the lifter in picture #2.   Meanwhile Richard Kilburn was at hospital for a knee operation.   By the end of the day he was back on the job!   He does not yet know if the operation was a success as the knee was still anaesthetised.