Chester Shot Tower, Grade II* listed industrial building in Boughton, England
Chester Shot Tower is a cylindrical red-brick structure standing beside the Shropshire Union Canal where lead shot was once manufactured. The building retains its original industrial design with functional openings that allowed the production process to operate vertically.
The structure was built in 1799 and manufactured lead ammunition during the Napoleonic Wars. It stands today as a testament to a production method that became standard across Britain.
The tower represents a form of industrial craft that shaped Britain's manufacturing identity. Local workers gained specialized skills in a process that was recognized across the country.
The site is accessible from Leadworks Lane near the canal in Chester's waterfront area. Visitors should be aware that the surrounding area is undergoing redevelopment and access to certain parts may be limited.
The tower employed gravity as the key to its manufacturing process by dropping molten lead in a controlled way. This method produced uniformly round pellets that were impossible to achieve through other techniques of the era.
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