THERE was double the rubble at the Accrington Brick and Tile Company, when two giant chimneys were brought down to earth by Warburton Steeplejacks of Blackburn.

We’ve been able to piece together pictures of the two stacks, which fell within minutes of each other, to show you how it looked when they were felled in June 1981.

The Nori was first produced at a brickworks adjacent to the quarry in Whinney Hill, Altham by the Accrington Brick and Tile Company Ltd. The clay there produced bricks of the highest strength and hardness. These bricks were acid resistant, so could be used for the lining of flues and chimneys.

There were four brickyards, producing engineering bricks (Enfields, Whinney Hills) and specials. Specials were hand thrown into plaster of paris moulds. They could be extremely decorative.

These bricks were used for specialised engineering projects such as in furnaces and for powerstations.

The famous bricks were used in the construction of Blackpool Tower and Empire State Building.