One of the abseilers who cleans cladding on Hull City Council's 26 tower blocks.
One of the abseilers who cleans cladding on Hull City Council's 26 tower blocks.

Meet abseilers defying gravity to keep Hull’s tower blocks clean

It is not a job for the faint of heart.

Meet the team of abseilers who defy gravity to make sure cladding on Hull City Council’s 26 tower blocks is kept sparkling clean.

Larry and his colleagues at Industrial Abseiling think nothing of launching themselves off high-rise blocks such as Hull’s Gatwick House, which is some 50 metres tall.

They need to be fit and strong too because the safety wear alone weighs 50kg – and balance is important as they carry out their task while hanging from the side of the building.

The city’s high-rise flats are cleaned on a three-yearly cycle, with each block taking about a month to clean, depending on weather.

Industrial Abseiling includes illustrious buildings include Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace on its books.

Watch the vertiginous operation below:

Bransholme Health Centre.
Hull Paragon Interchange.