Not that many people will have walked up the 403 steps to the top of Wainhouse tower, but those who have will have been well-rewarded for their efforts.
Once there you have a magnificent view of the district and a close-up glimpse of the fantastic gothic architecture on the tower's crown.
Unfortunately it has only been accessible to the public on high days and holidays but whenever the doors were op
en there were plenty ready to take advantage of the opportunity for a closer look.
Now it seems the tower, built in the late 19th century, is starting to crumble and it is no longer safe for the public. A recent inspection has shown the elaborate lantern dome is in a worse state than originally thought
Even worse Calderdale Council cannot say when it might be open again, indeed they cannot not even consider carrying out any remedial works until the next financial year. Reading between the lines that sounds like this might be a rather costly job.
The grade two building is one of the most prominent landmarks in Calderdale. We know it is well-loved. When the council decided to light up the crown one Christmas - thanks to the suggestion of a young Courier reader - everyone was thrilled. So thrilled that the public demanded the lights stay up permanently.
Initially the idea for a tower came from John Edward Wainhouse, who owned the Washer Lane Dyeworks. The then Halifax corporation urgently wanted to cut pollution - how little has changed! The tower should have been a chimney taking poisonous smoke up into the atmosphere and as Wainhouse was a lover of good architecture he also wanted it to be an object of beauty. There is another theory that he wanted to annoy his neighbour and deliberately ensured it overlooked his property.
As it was never used for its original purpose the tower is known as a folly - although it did come into its own as an observation post in the second world war.
It is a lovely piece of history and a unique piece of architecture worth keeping. The question is should our council tax be spent on its renovation?
Surely it is a cause worthy of English Heritage or the National Trust who could maintain this unique piece of social history for future generations. Its story, so tied up with the area's industrial past, is worth telling in a display or small museum at the bottom and with some careful thought it could become not only a well-known landmark but a tourist attraction in its own right.
Clocking offA peal of church bells is something quintessentially English. At one time the sound called us to church or segmented our working lives by marking every quarter hour with a chime.
Despite all the new technology at our disposal we still glance at the church clock as we pass.
Of course we never give a thought to those who maintain the mechanisms, wind clocks and pull the bell ropes. But it is a part of our heritage we would sorely miss if it were gone.
It is the likes of 75-year-old stalwart Selwyn Emmott who has kept things ticking over at St Mark's Church, Siddal, for 15 years. The sprightly pensioner has climbed the stairs and scaled a 60ft ladder three times a week but has now decided he is needs to call it a day. He said he had great pride in his job and quite right too.
The clock stopped at noon one day in August and unless someone agrees to take on the role it will remain frozen in time. So, come on, there must be someone to step up to the challenge.
