Shot Tower, Lambeth facts for kids
The Shot Tower at the Lambeth Lead Works was a special kind of building called a shot tower. It stood on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, England. You would have found it between Waterloo Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. Today, the Queen Elizabeth Hall stands in its place. The Shot Tower was a very famous building along the river. It even appeared in paintings by artists like J. M. W. Turner.
Contents
What Was the Shot Tower?
A shot tower was a tall building used to make small, round lead balls. These balls are called "shot." They were used in old firearms, like muskets, or for hunting. The way they made the shot was quite clever.
How Did They Make Shot?
Making shot involved dropping melted lead from a great height. The lead would cool and harden into perfect spheres as it fell. This process needed a very tall tower. The Lambeth Shot Tower was built for this exact purpose.
History of the Lambeth Shot Tower
The Lambeth Shot Tower was built in 1826. It was designed by David Riddal Roper for a company called Thomas Maltby & Co. This tower helped produce lead shot for many years.
Who Owned the Tower?
In 1839, another company, Walkers, Parker & Co., took over the tower. They also ran a similar, square-shaped shot tower nearby. Walkers, Parker & Co. continued to operate the Lambeth Shot Tower until 1949.
The Tower's Later Years
After 1949, the tower appeared in the film Night and the City (1950). In 1950, the top part of the tower was changed. A steel frame was added to make it a radio beacon. This beacon was for the Festival of Britain, which happened in 1951. The Shot Tower was the only old building kept on the site for the Festival.
When Was the Tower Demolished?
The Shot Tower was taken down in 1962. This was to make space for the Queen Elizabeth Hall. This new building opened to the public in 1967.
How Was the Shot Tower Built?
The Shot Tower was made of bricks and got slightly narrower towards the top. At its base, it was about 30 feet (9 meters) wide. The walls at the bottom were about 3 feet (0.9 meters) thick.
Inside the Tower
At the very top, where the gallery was, the tower was 20 feet (6 meters) wide. The walls there were about 18 inches (45 centimeters) thick. The top gallery had a decorative edge and a safety railing. This gallery was 163 feet (50 meters) high. You could reach it by a spiral staircase built inside the wall.
Making Different Sizes of Shot
There was a floor halfway up the tower. This level was used to make smaller lead shot. The very top gallery was used for making larger shot.
How Did the Shot Tower Work?
Hugh Casson, who helped design the Festival of Britain, once described how the tower worked. He explained that it was like a factory chimney with a staircase inside. Workers would take hot, melted lead up to the top.
The Dropping Process
At the top, the lead was dropped down the long shaft. As the drops fell, they would cool down. Instead of becoming tear-shaped, they formed perfect little round balls. These tiny balls were like the shot you find in a cartridge.
The Workers
Casson mentioned two old men who worked there. One was at the top with the hot lead. He would drop it into a cold bucket of water at the bottom. The water cooled the shot instantly. Then, the shot was collected and sold. These two workers were often separated by 150 feet (46 meters) of empty space. They were like two old fishermen, working quietly for many years.
