Factory Chimneys in Italian Renaissance Style
Victorian Chimney Design Inspired by Italian Campanile Bell Towers
Nov 6, 2009
In his 1915 novel, Of Human Bondage, Somerset Maugham writes:
“In themselves there is nothing to choose between the Campanile of Giotto and a factory chimney. … beautiful things grow rich with the emotion that they have aroused in succeeding generations. That is why old things are more beautiful than modern.”
Maugham’s favourable comparison of a factory chimney with an Italian campanile – or bell tower – was no accidental observation. Many factory chimneys built during the Industrial Revolution were, indeed, deliberately modelled on the Italian campanile.
Factory Chimneys in the Industrial Revolution
Most factory chimneys were stark and unembellished. After all, industrial chimneys were essentially practical, utilitarian structures. Their main function was firstly, to provide a draught for the combustion of fuel in the factory furnace and secondly, to get rid of poisonous smoke and fumes.
Yet these plain, uncompromising chimneys were marvels of engineering. Consideration had to be made as to foundation, structure, size and type of bricks (ordinary or fire-proof?), measurements, type of mortar, temperature inside the chimney shaft, stability and many other aspects of chimney construction.
The Rise of the Italianate Campanile Chimney
However, some new factory owners who had made their wealth during the Industrial Revolution wanted to merge practicality with beauty. Travelling abroad, particularly to Italy, the new industrialists were impressed with the architecture of the Italian Renaissance. They noted how the bell towers of Venice, Florence and Verona echoed the distinctive and striking shapes of factory chimneys in towns all over ithe north of England.
They may also have been influenced by John Ruskin’s popular and influential books, Stones of Venice and The Lamp of Architecture.
Why Build Italianate Bell Tower Factory Chimneys?
The religious connotations of the Italian bell towers may have seemed far removed from the stark industrial landscapes of English mill towns. Yet the average Victorian mill owner was a deeply religious human being and with his belief that the work ethic was good for the saving of souls, the Italian bell tower would transplant very well from the warm Catholic South to the sometimes chilly Protestant North.
In addition, in a new spirit of Christian paternal philanthropy, many mill owners wanted to be seen to be looking after their workers from cradle to grave. They believed beauty would add to the happiness of the workforce and, at the same time, increase productivity.
There was also the matter of status. The Italianate factory chimney gave much sought-after prestige to the new industrial entrepreneur. It spoke of foreign lands, Renaissance architecture with all its social and intellectual implications and, like a church tower, it reached upwards from industry to God.
Echoing the desire for the classical illusion, in his book Designs for Factory, Furnace and other Tall Chimneys, (1859) Robert Rawlinson, one of the first architects to design for industry, placed his stunning drawings of factory chimneys within classical romantic landscapes, with huntsmen and dogs, without a hint of smoke, grime or deprivation. It was a lofty aspiration that philanthropic mill owners would strive for and, in some limited respects, achieve.
Where to See Italianate Factory Chimneys Today
The beauty of the Italianate factory chimney and Italian-influenced industrial architecture in general, is very much appreciated today. These structures are now being rescued, cleaned, restored and regenerated, and some are open to visitors. Just three examples are:
- Tower Works, Holbeck, Leeds – opened in 1864 by pin-maker, Colonel Thomas Harding, this factory has three chimneys based on the bell towers of Florence, Verona and Tuscany. In September 2009 work started on site as part of a £19.8m investment from Yorkshire Forward, a redevelopment agency.
- Salts Mill, Saltaire, Lancashire – built by Titus Salt, this mill is based on an Italian palace with two Italianate chimneys. It is a beautiful World Heritage Site housing a David Hockney Gallery, restaurants and numerous shops.
- The Wainhouse Tower, Halifax – built by dyeworks owner, J E Wainhouse, this is not a factory tower but an Italianate folly with an interior staircase leading up to a viewing balcony, 253 feet above ground.
It is hardly surprising that some architects, since the decline of the mining industry, have long wanted to turn industrial northern towns into copies of Tuscan hilltop villages. It would attract tourists and it’s not so far-fetched. The soft, hilly landscape is similar, the people are open and friendly, and the Italian campanile has been in place for over a hundred years. Granted, the weather might be a problem.
Sources:
- Of Human Bondage by Maugham W.S. (Penguin, June 1969)
- Modern Architecture & Design an Alternative History by Risebero, Bill ( MIT Press, 1 Jan 1983)
- Pure and Constant - website about Industrial Pumphouses
- Designs for Factory Furnace and Other Tall Chimney Shafts. by Rawlinson, R. [Weale 1858] – an on line short synopsis of this book. It is very rare and costs approx. $US 5103.80
- Holbeck Urban Village website
- Spinning the Web – Manchester Website about the rise of the factory.
- Tall Chimney Construction by Brancroft M. Robert - www.archive.org
See Also:
- Alexandra Palace Inspired by Crystal Palace - history and facilities of Alexandra Palace, London.
- Joseph Paxton: Architect of the Great Exhibition - brief biography of the man who rose from humble beginnings to become architect of the Crystal Palace.
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