Four Things

18 July 2025

A look at the chimneys of Old College this week. There are 17 stacks, some with as many as 12 flues.

Built from sandstone and limestone, they bear the scars of the harsh marine environment.

Over 160 years salt has penetrated the porous stone, crystalising, expanding and gradually eating away at their fabric.

High above King Street three chimneys stand four metres tall, having survived the great fire of 1885.

Weighing in at over 10 tonnes, each one is being dismantled and rebuilt.

Where possible the original stones have been retained, with new stones used where degradation has been too great.

The work by Stoneguard Northern requires great skill as individual stones weigh up to 280 kilograms.

The days of open coal fires in Old College are long gone - it’s likely there would have been more than 140 back in the day!

Some of the newly renovated chimneys will provide natural passive ventilation, whilst others will vent for their long-term protection.