OT Keppels Column

[Nogbad]

I think it closed to the public in the early 60s, but I climbed to the top before that a good few times in my youth.

Memory sometimes plays tricks, but ISTR that towards the end of that period it was largely kept locked, but you could pay (a penny per person?) and pick up the key from the lodge at the corner of Scholes Lane. (That building looks rather bigger now, but I think there is evidence of the rather smaller original having been somewhat extended). I have fairly distinct memories of walking over there with visiting relatives.

[Redshank]

I think it closed to the public in the early 60s, but I climbed to the top before that a good few times in my youth.

Memory sometimes plays tricks, but ISTR that towards the end of that period it was largely kept locked, but you could pay (a penny per person?) and pick up the key from the lodge at the corner of Scholes Lane. (That building looks rather bigger now, but I think there is evidence of the rather smaller original having been somewhat extended). I have fairly distinct memories of walking over there with visiting relatives.

I can remember going up with my Dad and Uncle when I was very young. Paid a penny to an old guy sat at the bottom of the stairs. The column closed sometime in the 60s but the local kids (including me!) found ways to get in. Initially by climbing up to the lowest windows, before they were bricked up. After that, through the small hole that someone knocked out of the bricked up door way. From our house, well into the 70s, you'd often see figures at the top.

There's the "halfway house" as we called it - a central room half way up with an open ventilation shaft right up to the top. The last time I went up the column two or three steps had dropped out part way up and we had to jump over these to avoid the drop down to the spiral staircase below. The railings at the top were corroded and clearly dangerous... even to us kids! Looking back, I go cold thinking of the daft stunts that we got up to. Bloody happy days though

Top of my bucket list .... going back up Keppel's Column. Can't wait