Wainhouse Tower – a fundamental architectural whim (10 photos + 1 video)
Perched on a hill in the King's Cross area of Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, Wainhouse Tower is the tallest structure in the Calderdale Valley. 
Its majestic silhouette, visible for miles, has become an iconic landmark for the entire region. This tower is called the world's greatest folly—an architectural folly—because it was never used for its original purpose. A curious legend about a local feud is also associated with it, leading to the majestic structure being nicknamed the Tower of Spite. 
The construction was commissioned by John Edward Wainhouse, a dye factory owner, to comply with the new 1870 "Town Regulations." However, Wainhouse, a man with a keen eye for architecture, wanted the industrial structure to be the embodiment of beauty. 
Construction of the brick chimney began in 1871 using stone from local quarries. Wainhouse was forced to sell the factory before completion, but he retained the tower itself. Stripped of its utilitarian function, it received a new incarnation: Wainhouse redesigned the unfinished structure, transforming it into a luxurious tower. He crowned it with a spectacular dome and two external walkways. The work was completed in 1875. 
Wainhouse's neighbor was the landowner and public figure Sir Henry Edwards, with whom he had a bitter feud. Edwards vehemently opposed the factory, accusing it of polluting the air. It was this conflict that gave rise to speculation that Wainhouse's primary goal was not compliance with the law, but rather a desire to antagonize his enemy. 
Local folklore adds further detail: Edwards allegedly boasted that his Halifax estate was the most secluded and that no one could spy on him. In response, Wainhouse erected a tall tower, which gave him a full view of his neighbor's property. 
In 1918, the tower came under the control of the city council and has been open to visitors ever since. It's 77 meters high, and to reach its summit, you need to climb 400 steps. 
