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Demolition of Fawley power station tower - as it happened

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Demolition of Fawley power station tower - as it happened

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Nostalgia
By Daily Echo Reporters

  • The 650ft chimney at Fawley power station is due to blown up today in a controlled explosion that is likely to be heard for miles around.
  • The demolition is expected to happen at 7am.
  • Follow this blog for live updates.

10:06am

Check out this lovely time-lapse video by Stuart Martin:

 

8:22am

If you're wondering what the tower looked like when it was first constructed, look no further!

Our heritage writer Ian Crump has put together a lovely piece on the history of the structure.

Click here to read it.

7:59am

This video gives you an idea of just how loud it was!

 

7:30am

If you were hoping to see a slo-mo video of the demolition, here you go:

 

7:24am

Twitter user Rachel Andrews (@EvrydyAthltRach) took this incredible photo of the exact moment of the demolition.

Daily Echo:

7:19am

Fortunately, the moment has been captured in a YouTube video.

7:15am

It seems many people were left a little disappointed by the weather conditions this morning.

Dozens had gathered across the area, including on the Isle of Wight and on the Hamble side of Southampton Water, to watch the demolition.

But unfortunately, the weather had other ideas...

 

7:08am

An ear-splitting sound greeted onlookers, before a large cloud of dust started drifting across nearby Southampton Water.

7:04am

The tower has been demolished!

Daily Echo:

This is one of the last photos of the structure before its demolition, and also gives you some idea of how terrible visibility is.

6:53am

There are also some brave souls using boats to get a better view of the demolition.

6:52am

There is a huge amount of media interest in the demolition, as you can see by this photo.

Lots of rain jackets visible...

Daily Echo:

6:47am

Daily Echo reporter Chris Yandell is at the station today to watch the tower come down.

He reports that it's beginning to get light and the chimney is finally coming into view.

A large number of people have gathered on Calshot Spit to watch the chimney come down, and at least one family appears to have spent the night on the Spit in a tent.

A series of alarms are due to be sounded shortly before the explosion occurs.

The chimney is due to be blown up at 7am on the dot.

6:35am

Part of the B3053 Fawley Bypass has been closed from 4am and an exclusion zone enforced from 5.30am until shortly after the event.

As reported in the Daily Echo the power station is being demolished by Fawley Waterside Ltd to make way for a £1bn scheme that aims to create "one of the most beautiful small towns in England".

Over the past few days former residents have been returning to the area to catch a final glimpse of the chimney ahead of tomorrow's explosion.

Posting on social media, one woman spoke of making a 200-mile pilgrimage to say goodbye to one of the buildings she remembers from her childhood. "Had to see it one last time," she said.

If you are unable to find a suitable viewing point - or you don't fancy braving the frankly horrendous weather - then you can watch the demolition by clicking here.

6:34am

The tower at Fawley power station has towered over the entrance to Southampton Water for more than half a century.

But, for better or worse, that reign is due to come to an end this morning.

The demolition is being carried out in stages, and the picture below shows the extent of work already carried out.

At 7am today, the iconic tower itself is expected to come crashing down.

Follow this blog for live updates, as well as pictures and videos.

Daily Echo:

PHOTO: Andy Amor

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