Big Red Chimney in Balbriggan

Fingalian

Anyone know anything about the big redbricked chimney near the Trainstation , it stands alone on some waste ground? Was it from a factory or a brickworks perhaps?

Thanks for any info.

fergal.b

It's called Smyth's chimney and was part of a clothing factory, here is a bit of info http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/fingal/life-in-the-past-in-finga/clothing-smyths-of-balbri/

sirpsycho

The chimney was part of Stephenson's Factory, not Smyco's.

Balbriggan Sea Banks Hosiery Company traded on the site from 1884 to its destruction in 1920 by the Black and Tans.

Then Stephenson took it over and made hosiery and underwear from 1932 onwards.

Think it closed in the 80's and the buildings were all demolished between 2000 - 2004, except for the chimney.

Morpheus

The chimney has been there a long time and is now a protected structure!

Fingalian

Thanks for all the info. Nice down there early in the morning , great views.

rccaulfield

Any pictures of it before destruction?

Cardinal Richelieu

sirpsycho wrote: »

The chimney was part of Stephenson's Factory, not Smyco's.

Balbriggan Sea Banks Hosiery Company traded on the site from 1884 to its destruction in 1920 by the Black and Tans.

Then Stephenson took it over and made hosiery and underwear from 1932 onwards.

Think it closed in the 80's and the buildings were all demolished between 2000 - 2004, except for the chimney.

Seems its incorrectly recorded, they do list its date as circa 1890-1910 but its recorded as Smyths Chimney while Sea Banks Hosiery was beside the Lighthouse station near the Martello Tower.

http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=FI&regno=11305008

I found this photo of Balbriggan Sea Banks Hosiery Company, is that the correct location of the Chimney?

rccaulfield wrote: »

Any pictures of it before destruction?

Source: Balbriggan.net


Source: http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=FI&regno=11305003






History of the Hosiery Trade in Balbriggan
http://www.balbriggan.net/smyco.htm

If you browse through the 1901-11 census quite a few girls in Rush, Lusk, Naul and Skerries are employed as embroiders so it was an important trade for NCD in its day.

rccaulfield

Found i pic of it in this 1942 still, it comes into view at 3.50 seconds, look closely and i think you can see the chimney at an angle of about 3 o clock!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8NRCykqd8g&feature=relmfut