You know Dixon's chimney . . .

If you ask for directions in Carlisle, it is highly likely that the directions will start with – You know Dixon’s chimney . . . It is such a landmark and no wonder as it towers over everything else. It’s not often that it has a background of blue sky, so I took this as we waited at traffic lights this morning. A very cold, but quite sunny, day.
 
Dixon's Chimney and Shaddon Mill were built in Shaddongate, Carlisle by Peter Dixon in 1836. Shaddon Mill was a cotton factory, the chimney of which became very famous due to it rather large size. The chimney was built to be tall enough to stop the large amounts smoke, coming from the factory, from bothering the rest of the city. In its day it was the largest cotton mill in England and had the 8th largest chimney in the world. Peter Dixon and Sons Ltd. provided work for 8000 people in their four mills in the area. 
 
Dixon's Chimney, being such a popular and historic structure in Carlisle, was restored by Carlisle City Council in 1999.  Originally it was 305ft tall, but in 1950 it was shortened to 290ft. The internal diameter of the chimney remains 17ft 6in and 10ft walls at the base. In 2005 part of the mill was converted into apartments and the other part is used by the University of Cumbria
 
Once a year the City Council hires steeplejacks to check the chimney to make sure it is still secure.