New dome for Darwen Tower

13/01/2012

PDG Helicopters skillfully lift a new dome onto Darwen Tower

A Lancashire landmark that lost its dome in high winds more than a year ago has had a new top lifted into place by PDG Helicopters.


Darwen's Jubilee Tower lost its fibreglass dome and weather vane during winds of up to 80mph (129km/h) on 11 November 2010. The new steel dome was made by Darwen engineering company WEC Group Ltd, as a gift to the town.

It cost more than £35,000 and was skillfully lowered into place using one of our Eurocopter B2 Squirrel helicopters and ground support crew. The new top, made from powder-coated stainless steel, is the third to crown the tower.
The original, made from wood, also blew off in high winds in 1947. It was eventually replaced by one made from fibreglass after Darwen mayor Bill Lees launched a fund in 1971.

Peter Roberts, who has overseen the building of the new dome, said: "A stainless steel structure will never corrode away, and will be there for another 500 years."
Many residents from the town climbed the moors to witness the dome being being put in place and several TV news crews were there to report the story.

Darwen Tower, a Grade II listed structure, was built in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.

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