Nab End (Longwood) Tower and Amphitheatre, Huddersfield 13/11/10

[SteveB]

This is a site that despite regularly driving very close to it, I had no idea it was there until recently.



Nab End Tower, also known as Longwood Tower, was built in 1861 on the site of a quarry. It's a folly built, for the sheer hell of it, by locals during a slack period of work, probably in connection with the "Longwood Thump" festival. It's solid, made using dry stone masonry techniques, under the direction of a George Hellawell, a local mason described as "deaf and dumb". They made it up as they went along, there were no plans!





The top of the tower had to be rebuilt after visitors thought it was fun to throw stones off the top. Ownership was transferred to the Council in 1895, who at some stage concreted the top to prevent vandalism. The railing is probably their work too.



The council also added these butresses, to prevent the structure from collapsing - the original design had some flaws as it wasn't really designed!


Also on this site is an open air amphitheatre, viewed here from the top of the tower





Built 1873, Rebuilt 1930


This was also built with dry stone masonry, but has had the concrete treatment in later years, possibly as part of the 1930 rebuilt. The original stonework can be seen where the concrete is chipping off.



The amphitheatre is used for the annual "Longwood Sing" event each year, but was presumably built for the Longwood Thump.

I couldn't resist including this shot, taken from the top of the tower, showing the Milnsbridge viaduct



More info about this site including an 1861 newspaper article about the tower: http://www.jimjarratt.co.uk/follies/page22.html

[boxfrenzy]

That#s interesting mate. Nice one

[coops]

Nice little report mate

[beam assisted]

I never knew this existed, very interesting, and on my 'todo' list. Many thanks for bringing this to my attention and sharing.

[KingElvis]

Like this lots.

[SilentHill]

That's ace mate. Built as it was with no plans and still standing today. How cool is that

[judderman62]

like that - nice one