Redcliffe Shot Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redcliffe Shot Tower |
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| General information | |
| Type | Shot tower |
| Location | Redcliffe, Bristol, England |
| Coordinates | 51°26′54″N 2°35′26″W / 51.448298°N 2.590599°W |
| Construction started | 1775 |
| Completed | 1782 |
| Demolished | 1968 |
The Redcliffe Shot Tower was a very important building in Bristol, England. It was the first of its kind in the world! This tall tower was used to make small lead balls called "shot," which were used in old guns. It stood in the Redcliffe area of Bristol from 1782 until 1968.
Building the Tower
The idea for the Redcliffe Shot Tower came from a man named William Watts. He was a plumber who lived in Bristol. In 1775, he started changing his own house to build this special tower.
His house was near the famous St Mary Redcliffe Church. Watts added a tall tower on top of his house. He also dug a deep shaft into the soft rock below. This made the total drop inside the tower about 90 feet (27 meters) high.
How Lead Shot Was Made
By 1782, the tower was finished and ready to make lead shot. William Watts even got a special patent for his new method. This meant he was the only one allowed to use his invention for a time.
The process worked like this:
- First, molten (melted) lead was poured through a pan with many small holes.
- As the lead drops fell through the air, they became perfectly round.
- The drops then landed in a pool of water at the bottom. This cooled them down quickly.
- The result was tiny, round lead balls, or "shot," used in firearms.
The Tower's Later Years
William Watts faced financial problems and was declared bankrupt in 1794. However, his amazing shot tower continued to operate. It was owned by different companies over the years.
In 1868, a company called Sheldon Bush and Patent Shot Company Limited took over. The Redcliffe Shot Tower was a well-known landmark in Bristol for a long time. But in 1968, it was taken down. This happened to make way for new roads in the city. The company moved its shot-making business to a new place called the Cheese Lane Shot Tower, which was closer to the Floating Harbour.
See also
In Spanish: Torre de Tiro de Redcliffe para niños
