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Cellophane chimney is coming down

12:07pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in Bridgwater Area News By Matthew Colledge

Photo: Andy Slocombe Photo: Andy Slocombe

PART of Bridgwater’s industrial heritage has been brought crashing down to earth this week.

The chimney stack at the old Cellophane factory is being dismantled, in preparation for development which forms part of the giant North-East Bridgwater project.

The stack was built in around 1936 or 1937, and was used to disperse gas from the factory’s boiler house.

Because of the stack’s height, the gas could be dispersed over a wider area, thus helping to limit the infamous Cellophane smell.

Did you used to work at, or live near, the Cellophane site?

Why not use the comment form below to share your memories?

Alternatively, phone our newsroom on 01278-727960, or e-mail newsdesk@bridgwatermercury.co.uk.

Comments(7)

swjoduk says...
1:01pm Wed 1 Sep 10

What a travesty, the chimney is part of Bridgwater's heritage as the Tor is to Glastonbury, the monument is to Wellington and the telecom tower is to London!

Ok it used to be responsible for the jokes about Bridgwater and the smell but it is part of the Bridgwater skyline and industrial history.

It will be a sad day when it is gone forever!

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sburney says...
3:42pm Wed 1 Sep 10

I take it Tesco are buying it???
The only reason i say that is its happening to an important piece of bridgwater, whats next take carnival away???

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twinkles says...
9:23am Thu 2 Sep 10

I really am going to miss this when it's gone. I've spent a few days here and there taking shots of the icon from various angles and locations in and around the town. I think it's not necessary to remove all chimneys these days, only if they contain hazardous materials. I recall Tulketh in Preston still has a massive chimney in the car park of a health club! Would make a nice feature. Shame.

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s.a.m says...
10:49am Thu 2 Sep 10

you cant beat the smell of the smellophane as we called it its part of the town

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Bald Carl says...
11:43pm Tue 7 Sep 10

Unfortunately it's not been designated as a listed building and is not protected.

The least they could do is blow it up on a sunday and give us all a bit of excitement for an hour or so. Maybe even put top-gear's hilux on or under it to see if Bridgy an finish off something Burnham couldn't do.

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tk62 says...
9:12pm Thu 30 Sep 10

What a terrible thing to do. I agree with the previous comments, keep it (or what is left of it) and make a feature of it. Bridgwater's survival depended on Cellophane or "smellophane" as locals knew it, celebrate what that company did for the town while it was there. My dad worked there for 30 odd years and I have been round there twice. I lived on Sydenham.

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JULIETBRAVO says...
9:20pm Thu 30 Sep 10

tk62,bridgwater. I think it's to late I cant see any og the chimney from my window so I assume it's lost forever. Bit like the Splash really never mind what we would have liked pull it down

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