SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I've always thought that the structure on the top of Quarry House was purely decorative (perhaps also a lightning conductor). I was therefore surprised to see steam coming out of it today! I first noticed it from some way away when I was on a bus and saw the steam rising vertically and going fairly far up (presumably related to the cold weather). I decided to go and try to take a photo, which is that with this post. I must have seen Quarry House (the Department of Health/Department for Work and Pensions building, locally nicknamed the 'Kremlin') very many times but I've never noticed it steaming before! I guess the heating was on high! PS. Despite being only 193 KB the photo is very large for some reason.

For interest this is a photo (only 94 KB) that I also took today showing Quarry House with steam!

Its the DWP burning the evidence!

liits wrote: Its the DWP burning the evidence! That made me .

Perhaps they need a vent for all the hot air they generate?Or perhaps it's the exhaust for the executive indoor pool and sauna they have for staff?Or, less amusingly, it's just the vent for the heating system...?There was a rumour when the Kremlin opened that the structure on top was a top secret listening device that was listening in to claimants across the city...

raveydavey wrote: Perhaps they need a vent for all the hot air they generate?Or perhaps it's the exhaust for the executive indoor pool and sauna they have for staff?Or, less amusingly, it's just the vent for the heating system...?There was a rumour when the Kremlin opened that the structure on top was a top secret listening device that was listening in to claimants across the city... Probably the second option

I always thought it represented a syringe and hypodermic?Come to thinm of it I think it has steamed in the past.

Yhe entire stricture is a decorative housing for the Boiler flues with the spike added to follow the nautical theme as a psudeo mast. (The entire thing will be bonded to the building lightning protection system which will be wiely dispersed up there).

The sheer largesse of a swimming pool etc feels 'Soviet-era' so the Kremlin is a good tag. I'm not going to mention the Pensions.On the plus side, it ties in well with 1930's Headrow viewed from oppo Lewis's. So that's my pos though for the day.

Somebody pointed out to me that there is a fault with the windows in the tower like structures at each end of Quarry House.There are four windows at each side but the top window on the left is higher than the one on the right.Did anyone else know this?Whos fault would it be. . the architect or the builder?