[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Rob249

Its been getting worse these last few years but that band has only come away in the last week, they took some of it down a few years back, because it was leaning more then, only reason i noticed it was i worked in the mill about 10 years ago.The thing im worried about is that its the bricks that are cracked and not the mortar.I think if we get more snow and winds in next few weeks that band will come down, but i cant imagine it being safe to go up there in this weather to remove it.

Because of its octagonal shape the broken band is being held in place by the other corners, but if there is more spauling, then the bricks could push
on the band enough to loosen it.

Then it could come down and probably some of the upper brickwork as well. From the look of it that band should be further up the chimney, and it has slid down and is resting on the band below.

Retlaw.