Rapunzel Diaries 3: Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower, Blackpool

I have relatives who live about 5 miles down the promenade from Blackpool and yet I had never been up its famous tower until last year. You might think that's a bit of an oversight for a gal who loves towers but hey I can be patient....just as I'm waiting patiently for my husband to take me up that other famous tower across the Channel.


To tell the truth I do prefer a tower where I can walk up the stairs to the top. At Blackpool it's much more civilised and regimented - up the lift you go. But it's a grand experience. Fabulous views and we did get to go up some steps to the second level. It also has a rather exciting bonus feature in the shape of its glass floor which is rather wonderful if a little disorientating.










There are lots of lovely iron finials and curvy and quirky bits which you don't get on your average stone built folly tower. It's  also a very grand red rusty radiant colour.

There are some extra features: not every tower has an area where you can have a boogie but we got to sit in the famous Tower Ballroom and watch a tea dance which was quite mesmerising even if the seats are rather in need of a refit. And there are some fabulous tiles on the main stairs and foyer - reminders of grander times past.

It's a fine tower. Every city should have one. And I'm pleased that I made it up there at long last.

Rapunzel Diaries 2 : Wainhouse Tower

Wainhouse Tower, Halifax

This is my favourite tower ever I think. There is a wonderful winding staircase which winds round a central chimney. Along the way are little windows inset into the outer wall where you have to squeeze into to let people pass you going up or down. You spiral round and round, higher and higher and wonder when you'll ever see daylight. And then you are rewarded with a fabulous 360 degree vista of Halifax and the Calder Valley.

It's 272 feet or 84 m high (shame it's not 4 metres higher and I could get my '88' in), built between 1871 and 1875 and has 403 steps to the first viewing platform. It was built to serve as a chimney to the dye works owned by John Wainhouse. The chimney had to be high to comply with the Smoke Abatement Act of 1870. Mr Wainhouse wanted an elaborate chimney but sold the dyeworks to someone else in 1874 who refused to meet the cost of such a fancy chimney so Wainhouse kept it for himself as an observatory. And good for him - I'd have kept it - a tower all to myself.

I can remember climbing it in the eighties or nineties and I am sure we were allowed up to the second of the two tiers at the top. I can still remember the excitement of another level to climb and waving down to my mum way way below. I climbed it last year with my family and alas we were only allowed to the first tier, still up in the clouds.

In previous years the Tower has been open on some Bank Holidays. Well worth the effort - just check with Tourist Information in Halifax.

Rapunzel Diaries 1 : Lindley Clock Tower

Lindley Clock Tower, Huddersfield

Imagine lying in bed over one hundred years ago. The central heating hasn't come on because it hasn't been invented and anyway you wouldn't be able to afford it. It's dark and cold. And then the bell tolls. For whom does it toll? Well it tolls for you. Lindley Clock Tower tolls for you. Get up and go to work in the local mill, your alarm clock has gone off. It may be a very tall and big but it's your alarm clock nevertheless.

An alarm clock slightly bigger than the one at 88

Well that's what folklore would have us believe at any rate. James Sykes, a local mill owner, had Lindley Clock Tower built in 1902 by Edgar Wood. It's 83 feet high and built in the Art Nouveau style. Wood, originally from Middleton near Manchester, added all sorts of symbolic features to the tower. Above the doorway is Time and to the left Youth sowing the seed and to the right Old Age reaping.

At the top of the tower are gargoyles in the shapes of dogs representing 'The beasts fleeing from the towers of time' : the lazy, vicious, cunning and greedy dogs.....whatever that means?

I think it's the closest I've ever got to a Rapunzel Tower. It's a good climb winding round and round up to a little enclosed room with views 360 degree views. Rapunzel could feasibly let down her hair from up there.

It's not a 10 out of 10 tower as I like to get out into the elements on my towers and have uninterrupted panoramic views but it comes pretty near.

The Tower is only open on certain days of the year. I climbed it on the Heritage Open Weekend last September.