Rapunzel Diaries 10: Observation Tower at Flanders Moss

The best towers are those that you come across unexpectedly. The best towers are those you can climb up. So the very best towers combine the two. We went to Flanders Moss near Aberfoyle on holiday. Apparently the biggest area of raised bog in the UK.

Now I don't know about you but I expect a bog to be pretty flat and a bit wet. And it was horizontal and very damp but joy of joy hidden from us by the wooded approach to the bog but soon revealed was an observation tower from which to view the wet and very flat bog. Hurrah for the bog people thinking vertically.

Rapunzel Diaries 9: Mercian Regimental War Memorial

This is a tower devoted to those fallen in battle. The Sherwood Foresters were originally soldiers recruited from the counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. In 1970 men from the Worcestershire Regiment joined the Foresters. And this merry and proud band of men have a tower as a memorial to their comrades fallen in battle. Sadly there are recent deaths recorded on the memorial wall from Afghanistan. 

What better way to contemplate life, death and why people have to die in wars than when looking at a wonderful, inspiring view from the top of a tower. A fitting memorial to all those who have served.

Rapunzel Diaries 8: Rossall Point ObservationTower

The best towers are the ones you come across unexpectedly. For example, you are visiting your auntie on the coast with towers the last thing on your mind. There's Blackpool Tower down the road for sure but there aren't any more in the area and yet you spot a leaflet out of the corner of your eye at a country park visitor centre. Could it be, are you mistaken, no it really is a new tower to visit.

Rossall Point Observation Tower is a very sweet tower that leans - Fleetwood's very own 'Leaning Tower' except this has been built to tip into the coastal breeze. And we found this purposeful tower on a visit to my aunties at Cleveleys during the summer. It has a ground floor with interesting information about the coast and its wildlife; the next floor hosts a covered deck for observing; the next storey is operated by Coastwatch and the top floor is for leaning on the wall and gazing out over Morecambe Bay and the sea and the sky. A happy find.

A serendipitous find

 

 



Rapunzel Diaries 7: Hadlow Tower

I'm going to give you a new emotion: tower envy. I'm going to convert you to the thrills of tower climbing. I'm going to hone your tower seeking senses so that when you discover one you will want to climb it. I give you Hadlow Tower. This was our rather wonderful reason for visiting Kent.

Hadlow Tower



If I was Rapunzel (and I can't be coz I have very very short hair) I would want to be kept in a tower like this one. Three spiral staircases, a museum, a lift, a parapet from which to gaze down upon and around the world and bedrooms. Yes we slept in this tower. We had our very own grown-up sized Wendy tower to play in for the weekend.

It was my friend's 60th birthday and what a way to celebrate. We spent a whole morning exploring the spiral staircases and racing each other between the four floors. Then there was the main modern spiral staircase that took you up to our eyrie. Then of course we had to have photos taken from every vantage point and every combination of people in every vantage point.


It's in my top ten of best towers because it has steps to draw you up and build the anticipation; it's a truly beautiful spectacle and you get a lovely vista of Kent from the top...oh yes and did I mention you can sleep in it? Plus you get to climb to the top of your tower at night and view the stars above and the lights of the town and countryside below. Plus plus you get to turn all the lights on in the tower and run outside to see how magical a tower looks at night with all its lights on!

Over 4 million pounds has been spent on renovating this marvel. It was built in 1838, probably as a way to show off by its owner, and gradually fell into decay in the 20th century. Some very dedicated people campaigned to renovate it and over the last few years it's happened. You can stay in it and you can visit it on certain days during the summer. There is a little museum about its history, its renovation and other folly towers. Never had a museum for our private use before that's for sure. You should go.

Rapunzel Diaries 6: The Shard

I have had a lovely summer of towers. A tower fest to be sure. And the Shard was the tallest, not the most impressive but pretty near. It's obvious to say it but it does indeed look like a shard of glass piercing the London skyline. It's a bit of a wonky shard if you look directly up from the bottom - probably an illusion as it's so high. It's the tallest building in Western Europe but interestingly the second tallest structure in the UK after Emley Moor transmitting station. It was designed by Renzo Piano, a rather cool name to have and a rather cool place to say is your vision.

We caught the lift to level 68 for our first glimpse of London below us. It is breath taking. You can then climb the stairs up to Level 72. There are observation scopes around one of the levels so you can zoom in on places to find out what they are. It is fascinating to identify all these myriad famous places before you.

Our friends, S and R, got married very quietly last Saturday and went up the Shard as apart of their celebration. Congratulations. May your lives be full of interesting towers!

Rapunzel Diaries 5: Hereford Cathedral Tower

What do most churches have? Answer: towers. They are a very good source for tower climbing especially in September when quite a few churches open up their towers for the Heritage Open Weekend. Cathedrals often have tours of their magnificent perpendicular lofty regions throughout the year. We've just been on holiday to Herefordshire and am happy to report that Hereford Cathedral had a tower tour on that I and my children couldn't resist. The other five members of our party did decline to climb up though - funny folks!

Hereford Cathedral used to have two towers but the western one collapsed in the 18th century but we were willing to risk a climb of the 218 steps up the existing one. With cathedral climbs you get to see the building from the inside and from different perspectives. We got to walk across the ceiling and see it from the inside and view the cathedral down from the Lantern gallery appreciating the mosaic floors and the scale of the church. It is truly amazing when you contemplate that this building dates from the 11th century. How did they do it?

The reward is superb views of the Brecon Beacons, Malvern Hills and Herefordshire but the fascinating aspect is looking down on Hereford itself and seeing the gardens and nooks and crannies you just don't know or imagine exist.

Anyway we knew we had to descend again when we shouted down to David and our friends (sorry we broke the cloistered silence with 'Oi we're up here, you lot') and were greeted with fingers pointing at watches and then mouths. How could they favour lunch over a tower adventure...those perpendicularly challenged heathens.

Rapunzel Diaries 4: Victoria/Prospect Tower

Another great tower because you can climb it. It was built in 1844 to relieve unemployment amongst local miners and stonemasons. It's also a cool tower because it already sits on the side of a very steep hill so the vista is rather spectacular. It has spiral stairs within which are always desirable. They build up the anticipation of the view as you wind round and round.

It sits within The Heights of Abraham complex near Matlock in Derbyshire which must be one of the oldest little theme parks in Britain. It was first opened in the 18th century for woodland walks and visits down the lead and fluorspar mines. You can still go down the mines today. I really enjoyed it as it has a real sense of history and because of its unusual position, perched on the side of a wooded precipice. But the best feature is the cable car in which you travel to get up the steep hill to visit this bijou theme park. You really do need a head for heights.

By the way it's called the Heights of Abraham after a battle on the Plains of Abraham near Quebec in 1759.



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.