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This delightful 70 foot tall tower found in the 46 acre Locke Park, takes it name from the Victorian railway entrepreneur, Joseph Locke.
Locke who was a friend of another great 'railway name' Robert Stephenson, died in September 1860 at the age of 55.

Two years after his death his wife Phoebe gave Barnsley the land for the park.
The tower itself though was not constructed until the death of Phoebe herself in 1866, when her sister Sarah McCreery, had the tower built in memory of Phoebe, in the year 1877.

Photograph by: David Ball
© Sheffield Hallam University from their Public Art Research Archives pages  
As part of a research project for the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association  

The architect was thought to be a Frenchman called Renée Spiers, whilst the builders were Robinson & Son a local company.
The tower is an odd mix of architecture, the central circular body having a viewing platform at the top with a conical roof, whilst the lower half has an elegant classic colonnade.

A point of interest brought to my attention by David Ball, who took the above photograph, is that Locke was the driver of the railway engine involved in the first railway accident and fatality. This happened on the day that the Liverpool Manchester railway was opened and it was the Liverpool MP, William Huskisson, who was hit by Locke's train while crossing the track. The train ran over and mutilated his leg causing injuries from which he died shortly after.

Visiting:-
Situated in Locke Park

Co-ords 434250 405090 / SE 342050   

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