Wainhouse s former home, west air, is now the wainhouse tavern. The tower is open to the public on the bank holidays below. Search the history of over 421 billion web pages on the internet. Fascinating and beautiful a wonderful house dating back 600 years and one time home of an extraordinary woman anne lister 17911840 set in lovely parkland with good country walks nearby. Our original interactive panorama of wainhouse tower was created by vector media. Wainhouse apparently denied he acted out of malice, but whatever the truth there was enough history between the two men for the nickname of the tower of spite to be born, and remain today. Belvedere tower built for j e wainhouse to serve also as a chimney for his nearby dyeworks. Popular attractions john smiths stadium and wainhouse tower are located nearby. The main shaft is octagonal in shape with a square base and 403 stairs leading to the first of two viewing platforms. A rival claimed wainhouse only built the tower to keep an eye on his activities. From there, walk down the path to the top side of the car rental garage. Work to repair it began in july 2008 and took about five months. Wainhouse intended the structure to serve as a chimney for his halifax, yorkshire dye works. The structure was never actually used as a working chimney and as such, is regarded by many as one of britains finest follies.
Tower house hotel in halifax, united kingdom expedia. The 253 ft wainhouse tower was originally commissioned as a chimney for the local dye works by john edward wainhouse in the late 19th century. Unfortunately their panorama is now offline permanently as far as i can tell. A flight up the tower and 360 degree panoramic view of this amazing folly. Wainhouse decided to keep the tower for himself, and use it to his advantage in a bitter feud between himself and his neighbor, sir henry edwards, who had complained about smoke from the dyeworks. Jan 1, 2017 i write about john rhodes the bloody tower the tower of evil in the united states in my book masters of the humdrum mystery.
Exploring west yorkshires history isbn 9781781560389 exploring west yorkshires history. It took 4 years to build the structure from 1871 to 1875. During the first english civil war 16421646 halifax was a royalist stronghold, with king cross as a key outpost, on the roads between lancashire and west yorkshire, with the parliamentarians holding parts of the calder valley before 1850, the area consisted of small hamlets and agricultural fields, in the parish of halifax. The main shaft is octagonal in shape and it has a square base and 369 steps leading to the first of two viewing platforms which is open to the public, and a total of 405 to the top viewing platform which is usually closed. Wainhouse tower is a grade ii listed building in halifax, calderdale. Wainhouse tower wainhouse tower is a folly in the parish of king cross, on the south west side of halifax, calderdale, west yorkshire, in england. Initially designed as a 77m chimney for the dyeworks and built between 1871 and 1875, with balconies and an elaborate dome, the tower can be seen from miles around. Wainhouse tower halifax all you need to know before.
Anyone who is familiar with halifax in west yorkshire will have seen wainhouse tower it dominates the valley of the river calder but the story behind what is said to be the tallest folly in the world is. Book the tower house hotel stay at this 3star businessfriendly hotel in halifax. The wainhouse tavern was built by industrialist john edward wainhouse, also famous for the wainhouse tower the tallest folly in the world. It was erected between 1871 and 1875 at a total cost of.
The city of leeds isbn 9781781560396 exploring west yorkshires history. From january, 19, to january, 1917, i contributed a serial history of halifax to the satchel, the halifax schools newspaper. In 2006, wainhouse tower was closed because of safety problems. Wainhouse tower halifax, the worlds tallest folly by drone. At 275 feet, it is the tallest structure in calderdale and the tallest folly in the world, and was erected in the four years between 1871 and 1875. Originally a 17th century farmhouse, it was subdivided into 5 cottages at an unknown date. Wainhouse tower is a folly in the parish of king cross, on the south west side of halifax, calderdale, west yorkshire, in england. His eccentricities extended to his personal residence witnessed by the gothic architecture and the fact that all the mullion windows are different designs. The 19th century wainhouse tower at 253 feet high is one of the most prominent landmarks in calderdale.
A view from the king cross methodist church graveyard towards. Halifax is known for mackintoshs chocolate and toffee products including rolo and quality street. Beach cottage holidays book now at british beaches. Pay a visit and climb the spiral staircase inside the tower. Since my book was published in june, i have come to conclude that the. Towards the end of that period, a subcommittee of the head teachers association invited me to republish the articles in book form. Wainhouse tower the 253 ft wainhouse tower was originally commissioned as a chimney for the local dye works by john edward wainhouse in the late 19th century. In 1874, john wainhouse sold the mill to his works manager, who refused to pay the cost of the chimneys construction so wainhouse kept. Wainhouse tower, non civil parish 13900 historic england. At 275 feet 84 m, it is the tallest structure in calderdale and the tallest folly in the world, and was erected in the four years between 1871 and 1875. History of wainhouse tower the 19th century wainhouse tower at 253 feet high is one of the most prominent landmarks in calderdale. Recommended spots to visit include wainhouse tower 5min walk and victoria theatre 2. At the southwestern edge of halifax is wainhouse tower, which rises to 275. Vevy tall, octagonal, stone structure on square base.
Its one of my favorite detective novels by the author, whose real name was john. You cannot book tickets in advance for these dates. Wainhouse tower was put to some use during world war ii as an observation post and nowadays is a tourist attraction, open on select days throughout the year. Five years after these events, in 1875 the same year that wainhouse tower was completed to take its place in the history of the town sir henry was installed as the provincial grand master of the freemasons of west yorkshire. Moreover, the history as to why the tower was built is very interesting. Full list of ebooks available from nigel ibbotsons exploring west yorkshires history. Halifax, yorkshire history, travel, and accommodation information. The legends and traditions of huddersfield and its. At 275 feet 84 m, it is the tallest structure in calderdale and the tallest folly in the world, and was erected in four years between 18711875. Historically in the west riding of yorkshire, the town has been a centre of woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the piece hall. Wainhouse tower, 9 wakefield gate, king cross, halifax. Its construction began in 1871, and it was the brainchild of john edward wainhouse, a prosperous dyer by trade, who lived nearby at west air, a house which he had also built, and which is currently known as the wainhouse tavern. Visit wainhouse tower on your trip to halifax or united.
Cottage history dyers cottage yorkshire holiday cottage halifax. With the onset of the industrial revolution, through. Yet while the chimney was still being built, wainhouse sold the factory to his works manager, who. Wainhouse tower, halifax, calderdale british listed buildings. Wainhouse tower private ascent form and privacy notice pdf 36kb. A view from the king cross methodist church graveyard towards wainhouse tower, an ornate industrial chimney built for the nearby washer lane dyeworks in. John edward wainhouse commissioned both the tower and his own house west air, now the grade 11 listed wainhouse tavern to be built in the 1870s and. View all attractions near the wainhouse tavern on tripadvisor. I have found several aternatives, however, which show in stunning detail the wonderful views from the top of the tower. Wainhouse tower halifax 2020 all you need to know before. Wainhouse tower is a folly in the parish of king cross, on the south west side of halifax, calderdalewest yorkshire in england. The tower was originally intended to be a chimney for john edward wainhouse s dyeworks.
These were rented to master dyers at the dye works, previously across the road, by the wainhouse family. The tallest folly in the uk that was once a chimney and is now a local landmark. In many ways, the history of wainhouse history is as interesting as the building itself. View all hotels near wainhouse tower on tripadvisor. Cecil john charles street, freeman wills crofts, alfred walter stewart and the english detective novel 2012. The tower is a grade ii listed building in uk and is opened to the public only on bank. Wainhouse who inherited the dyeworks and property, including this cottage, from his uncle. Visitors can walk up its 403 steps in order to see a magnificent view of the district. Its 403 steps to the top and is open to the public on bank holiday weekends. This large tower is located at the south west side of halifax, calderdale. Visitors can walk up its 403 steps in order to see a.
However, before construction was finished, he sold the mill but kept the chimney to use as an observatory, adding steps inside it along with viewing galleries and the ornamental top that we see today. Wainhouse tow er is a folly in the parish of king cross, on the south west side of halifax, calderdale, west yorkshire, in england. Wainhouse died in 1883 and the tower was auctioned off and had several owners and eventually was bought by calderdale council in 1919. Wainhouse retired from the dyeing business before the tower was completed, and, on account of this, as well as for a few other reasons, the structure was called wainhouse s folly. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Wainhouse tower by trish colton skircoat green directory. Wainhouse tower is a folly in the parish of king cross, on the south west side of halifax. In 1874, john wainhouse sold the mill to his works manager, who refused to pay the cost of the chimneys construction so. Since my book was published i have come to conclude that the folly which likely inspired the titular tower of the bloody tower is wainhouse tower, built over 1871 to 1875 at the behest of john edward wainhouse, an yorkshire industrialist. Dyers cottage has a very long documented history, both of the building and its occupants. At 275 feet, it is the tallest structure in calderdale and the tallest folly in the world, and was erected in four years between 18711875. A fantastic piece of history that is quite hidden away when you actually try to find it. The slender tower rises 275ft and is decorated with both gothic and neorenaissance features.
Since my book was published in june, i have come to conclude that the folly which likely inspired the titular tower of the bloody tower is wainhouse tower, built over 1871 to 1875 at the behest of john edward wainhouse, an yorkshire industrialist. By constructing it high on a hill, wainhouse hoped to. Fragments of history the good, the bad and the ugle. Trish coltons az of halifax book launch is on 6 th march at 7pm at the old rishworthians rugby club, copley village. In 1870 along came the smoke abatement act which prompted john wainhouse to build a chimney the following year. Wainhouse tower, west yorkshire, england tourist information. The town was not mentioned in the domesday book, but there was a sizeable.
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