Tower off Crown Point Bridge,Whats that all about?

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 2:23 pm

Yeah, I get what people are saying about this 'fire-watch' tower thing, but I have never seen a similar thing elsewhere in Leeds or other cities, surely if these things were so common then more would exist? I have heard of such things before but only in reference to the vast forests in the United States and in Italian renaissance architecture... I dont know maybe its just such an insignificant thing that its never prompted any investigation and has been forgotten. I've always found it pretty peculiar though, and cos I was originally from South Leeds I used to pass it all the time and wonder what the heck it was for.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 2:46 pm

Most of the WW2 wartime fire watch points were easily overlooked box-like brick and concrete additions to existing roofs. A great many still exist, but usually one needs access to the relevant roof to be aware of their presence.The tower in question might have built been as a one-off fire look-out, but I can't see it needing to be so high if it was for the adjacent buildings - half that height would have been sufficient. It might have been adopted as a fire watch point in wartime, but is obviously far too old (and elegantly designed) to have been built in the 1930s.As a most unlikely possibility, I wonder if any of the owners of the property was an astronomer?

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 5:23 pm

Yep, an observatory - thats another contender for the solution, although I would imagine that back then with the amount of smog around from peoples coal fires etc it would have been difficult to see anything from the city centre. I am beginning to think that maybe it was just a folly built by an English eccentric as nothing more than a curiosity, Its just strange there isnt anything that mentions it as such, most British follies are catalogued, listed and extensively researched and as this isnt mentioned as a folly then maybe it isnt. I wonder if the agents in charge of the property would allow an inspection - for historical reasons of course! Might be able to flog the story to the YEP?!?

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 6:31 pm

The major problem for astronomers "seeing" (the term used for visually clear skies) is and always has been light pollution. This has increased exponentially with modern lighting methods, and has become really serious since the 1970s. Except when actual fog or smog occur, particulates from coal fires present less difficulties than one might think. At least there seems to be more consideration given to shielding light fittings in order to direct light to where it is required - on the ground rather than wasting it upwards and incidentally affecting astronomers - in more recent lighting practice.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 7:20 pm

It is not marked as chimney on the 1908 Godfrey map and doesn't appear on the 1847 map.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 8:03 pm

Curiously none of the maps show the bay at the back of the building or even refer to the tower at all.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 8:24 pm

Perhaps it provided much needed ventilation for the Kirkstall Abbey - Temple Newsam tunnel?

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 11 Oct, 2011 9:03 pm

raveydavey wrote: Perhaps it provided much needed ventilation for the Kirkstall Abbey - Temple Newsam tunnel? I'm with davey on this

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 12 Oct, 2011 3:34 pm

This is a photo of the tower that I took today (Oct 12 2011). It was taken in the Chandlers site. The windows are bricked up and the metal gated access/egress looks like it has not been used for some time. I wonder if there is access to the tower from the businesses/homes attached to it?I will put a close-up view of the gated access/egress door in my next post.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 12 Oct, 2011 3:44 pm

This is a close-up photo (taken Oct 12 2011) of the metal access/egress door to the tower. Judged by the rubble behind it and its general appearance it looks like this door has not been in-use for quite some time. The start of the spiral staircase in the tower can be seen. Sorry for the spots on the photo which will be due to water drops on the camera lens from the light rain that was falling. The plaque over the door states this is a Regent Housing Society site at the Chandlers and was opened on 6th October 1987, so it was not that long ago.