The Cottam Power Station Cooling Towers demolition took place today, August 14, 2025, at 11 am.
The eight giant cooling towers, each measuring 114 meters (375 feet) tall, were brought down using half a tonne of explosives in a controlled demolition carried out by specialist contractors Brown & Mason.
This demolition set a Guinness World Record for the greatest number of cooling towers demolished in one go.
The demolition marks a major milestone in the decommissioning of the Cottam power station, which operated for 51 years and was capable of generating enough electricity for approximately 3.7 million UK homes.
EDF is exploring options for the future use of the site to support the UK’s energy needs.
#cottam #power #station #demolition #explosion
In all honesty as incredible as the demolition truly is, it’s so sad to see another part of British history gone when they could have decommissioned it and left it standing as a landmark. Like the power station on the way into Nottingham on the M1 it really is like a way of knowing just where you are and when you go to uni there it’s a way of saying welcome home. It’s sad.
Used to work trains in steam days taking coal to Marnham power station. One night we had to go and run by west Burton power station to make sure some traffic lights didn't catch the drivers eye.
Visiting Cottam as a primary school kid in what must have been either 91 or 92 was an experience. It's weird to see it go. Pretty scary place to visit at that age, but very memorable all these years later. I worry that kids these days don't get experiences like that.
Good stuff! A view of the rubble after the dust cloud had gone would have been nice. All in all, nice!
To be replaced by dancing sunbeams and Unicorn farts.
power cuts a comin
In reality, they shouldn't have pulled these great buildings down,
as green energy isn't that clean, and net zero won't ever happen in no-ones life time,
It's something that I admired to view and look at in the 80s and 90s 00s, as to coalmines,
not looking at crap solar farms and wind turbines,
And kids today won't see the true experience of these buildings as to coalmines, as we all know why with Jackanory on the abused internet.
can't wait for egg on faces when too many blackouts come,
and coal and gas didn't hurt us in the 60s 70s 80s 90s, 00s, won't hurt us now,
all in the aid of making money on money with BS climate change,
good still I can still see Drax, with steam coming from the cooling towers as I miss that with all power stations in Yorkshire,
FERRY BRIDGE, EGGBOROUGH , THORPE MARSH,
Actually, somewhat anticlimactic 😢
I bet that dust cloud kept the local window cleaners busy. 😁
Amazing. What an experience to watch. But sad though that now another part of history gone. Thank you Ant
Says a lot when so many of the comments reflect the general feeling of the people of a once great industrial nation…these demolitions, impressive as they are, definitely symbolise the implosion of the productivity of the UK and it's people. We've been convinced over decades that the fast buck and invisible 'earnings' are king and making anything is primitive…if this is progress, then where are the benefits? Truth is, we've been culturally hollowed out and despite the recent VE and VJ day memorial celebrations, the truth is the UK was terminally injured by the wars of the 20th century, and the 21st century represents the last dying breaths of a 2,000 year old soul.
Great vid 👍
I bet swivel eyed Flintstone Ed Milliband is behind this, so I can never be put back in service
I lived in the cottage directly in front of the power station for most of my childhood. Seeing this was actually quite emotional. Also, I once experienced a UFO sighting there on the summer solstice of 1997. It was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life.
😢 ???
Great filming! Thank you for captured it for the majority unable to be there. Understand your sadness, but overall good that they are gone.
Maybe we need to stop " moving with the times" so much.
Nice filming and music is wonderful
Awesome
I thought the site was going to be used for housing.