Photo ‘Astrofax’ by Yorkshire Frontiers 

“Eiffel, Pisa, London – might be symbols of great power, but nothing makes my heart leap more than the sight of Wainhouse Tower!” – The Landlubbers

Wainhouse Tower has inspired art, song and poetry over the last 150 years! Halifax band ‘The Landlubbers’ wrote a great sea shanty-styled song about the Tower on their 2022 album ‘Wainhouse Tower’. You can listen to the song on their website and if you’re lucky, catch the Landlubbers performing it live as they play at one of Calderdale’s local music venues.

We’ve found two poems about Wainhouse Tower for you to enjoy. The authors are sadly unknown, however it’s a pleasure to be able to share their work here for you to enjoy. (If you have any information about either poem, please email us at wainhouse.tower@calderdale.gov.uk).

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Up yonder hill where wind does blow,

Stands t’ow’r that watches all below

 

Wi’ bricks o’ pride an’ chimney tall,

It’s nobbut grand, aye, best of all!

 

Why’s it there? tha might well ask,

A funny tale, that’s no small task

 

Some say Wainhouse built it big

To make his neighbour dance a jig!

 

It’s full o’ steps, them twist and wind,

Tha climbs ‘em all if tha’s that kind

 

Wi’ legs like jelly, huffin’ loud,

But when tha’s up, by gum, tha’s proud!

 

Tha sees o’er Halifax an’ t’dale,

Through fog an’ rain, or sun and hail.

 

Aye, t’view’s reyt grand, tha feels on top,

Like king o’ t’world, tha’ll never stop!

 

So if tha’s bold an’ loves a tale,

Head up to t’tow’r wi’ coat an’ ale.

 

For Wainhouse, love, is more than stone

It’s heart o’ t’hill, reyt proud, reyt lone.

(Author Unknown)

 

 

This second Ode to the Tower is longer, with some puzzling phrases we’ve done our best to explain for you below the poem.

Not leaning Pisa can compare

With Wainhouse Tower our folly rare

 

Real art thou not fabled lore

Like ancient Babel Tow’r of Yore

 

Eiffels and Blackpool’s plac’d by thee

Two fourth rate skeletons would be

 

Put to the vote, but few would plump

Their beauties gainst old Boston Stump

 

Tis safe to say none of the three

Can match thy graceful symmetry

 

Outrivalled by thy virgin pride

O landmark of our countryside

 

Within thy shadow I, one day

First saw the bridge of Lucy Gray

 

Hard by, the home the eye might scan

of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

 

Both Wordsworth’s verse and Sterne’s quaint prose

Are works of Art each reader knowns

 

And these originals may see

Another work of Art in thee

 

Why he designed thee folly fair

To us is neither here nor there

 

Whether for Rancour or Renown

We’ve no desire to pull thee down

 

To Scull’ry houses put thy mite

Well, nose cut off our face to spite

 

Not we the vandal Sons of Krupp

Like Louvain vilely blow thee up

 

Why should our Babel be brought low

For Jerry to build Jericho

 

Who, jealous of thy fine position

Would bring me folly to perdition

 

Untie the purse strings plank it down

In Bradb’rys silver or the brown

 

O’er Wainhouse Tow’r let us be boss

Or else twill be an old King Cross

 

Yes I’ll subscribe tis only fair

That every man should do his share

 

Awkward purse empty likewise fob

Missis always says lend me a bob

(Author Unknown)

The document this second ode is taken from comes with an illustration of the Tower which appears to be dated 1892 (although it’s hard to read) , so this ode may date from then. Here’s some explanations, as best we understand them, of some of the meanings in the second ode:

Fabled Lore: Stories, Traditions, Myths or Fables

Babel Tow’r of Yore: Refers to Tower of Babel a structure described in the Bible Genesis 11:9-9

Boston Stump: 700 year old Church Building in Boston UK, 365 steps to the top of the tower

Bridge of Lucy Gray: Sterne Bridge in Copley rebuilt 1914 & 2012

Tristram Shandy Gentleman: Sterne was Author of this novel

Wordsworth And Sterne: Wordsworth was Poet, Sterne was a novelist Author of Tristram Shandy Gentleman

Rancour: Bitterness or resentful

Louvain Vilely: malicious or corrupt act

Sons of Krupp: Family that produced cast steel

Jerry to build Jericho: Refers to story of Joshua’s curse on anyone who would rebuild the city of Jericho which was destroyed by the Israelites

Plank it down: Pay sum of money

Bradb’rys Silver or the Brown: hallmarking of silver by Thomas Bradbury, poor quality silver tarnishes brown

(With thanks to Stephen Lister.)

You can read our other blog posts celebrating Wainhouse Tower’s 150th anniversary here:

• The Sesquicentennial Story of Wainhouse Tower
• The Tower of Spite  – The Feud Between Wainhouse and Sir Henry Edwards
• The Dragons of Wainhouse Tower
• Doctor Who and the Tower of Spite

#WainhouseTower150 #VisitCalderdale