I seem to recall in the dim, distant past of my childhood a huge smoke stack looking affair - it was referred to as a tower, I believe - where one could climb to the top. It was located in an area known as Scoles Copice, although I'm not sure if I have the correct spelling. Did I dream up this place or did it- does it - exist?

Yes I have heard of Scholes Coppice (I think spelt so) but for the llife of me I can't remember anything about it. Ecclesfield???

Originally posted by nanrobbo
Yes I have heard of Scholes Coppice (I think spelt so) but for the llife of me I can't remember anything about it. Ecclesfield???

Thanks nanrobbo. It's just early days yet. I'm sure someone will know it and will enlighten us. I know that Scholes Coppice (thanks for the spelling) DOES exist to this day but I'm wondering about the tower one could climb and what significance it had.

By the way, I'm located in Townsville, Nth QLD.

We used to walk from FirthPark/Shiregreen to Low Shiregreen
go through the Bluebell Wood then on to Scholes Coppice.
I do not know what the tower was for although I read something about it a while ago on one of the threads or the Sheffield genealogy site. As you said- someone will come up with the answer.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,
Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

Happy New Year Everyone

Scholes Coppice is an area near Wentworth which used to be wooded.

The column you refer to is Keppel's Column which was erected byCharles the Marquis of Rockingham the leader of the Whig party in the late 1700's.

The column was built to celebrate the aquittal of his friend and party supporter Admiral Keppel after being charged with cowardice along with Sir Hugh Palliser at the Battle of Ushant in 1778.

The public were told that the French were defeated at the battle but later found they were not and these two men were charged to be court martialled in disgrace.

Both men were honourably discharged from the court and the Marquis decided to build a monument to restore Keppel's name.

He died before it was finished but his son finished it complete with a 217 step spiral staircase where people could climb to the top to see the amazing views from there.

Due to mining subsidence the column is now closed but still stands like some remote abandoned chimney.

For years it was the focus for lots of Sunday walkers and many people remember it from their younger days.

I hope this helps you to place it in your memory.

Happy Days!

Theres also Hoober Stand on the Wentworth Estate. This is open to the public but only in the summer months.
I went up a couple of years ago but picked one of the cloudiest days going, so didnt see much but on a clear day its reputed you can see as far as York Minster.

Hoober Stand
"A prominent landmark for many miles around, Hoober Stand is a 100 foot high watchtower standing at an elevation of 518 feet above sea level.

It was built in 1746-48 at the command of Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquis of Rockingham, ostensibly to celebrate the defeat of the second Jacobite uprising, although many suggest that his real reason in building it was to mark his elevation in 1746 to the Marquisate. Until 1746, he had held the title Earl of Malton and upon his elevation, that title passed to his only surviving son, Charles. The building was designed by the architect, Henry Flitcroft and the cost of its construction was £3000."

Scholes coppice was indeed known as Keppels column. some reffered to it as scholes coppice and some as Keppels column.
indeed there are two roads named after this, Keppel rd in shiregreen (where I was brought up), and Keppel rd in Kimberworth. the column was a popular place to aim for as kids on our bikes. have spent many a sunday cycling from lower shiregreen up to scholes coppice during the late 60s and early 70s. we used to go through wooley woods which at the time was totally covered in Bluebells.:hihi: Happy memories

we used to walk from Shiregreen to the column just after the war. If I remember correctly you could get refreshments from the old house nearby,but due to opencast mining the tree's were cleared making the area less attractive,in those days you could go up to the top. ;)

Am I the only one who actually went to the top of what we called Keppels Column?I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived on Woolley Wood Rd Shiregreen and I remember walking going there and ascending,I think for a penny,old money of course,soon after my Aunt said was closed for safety reasons,when?my overcrowded memory thinks just before the war

There may be some pictures and info on this site..if its been updated .. http://www.gardenfollies.co.uk/index.htm

Thanks so much to you all for the info on the column at Scholes Coppice. I must have been only 4 or 5 when mom (I guess) took me to see what I had thought to be a smoke stack of some description. I needed to know that I hadn't dreamed it up and I absolutely love the idea that it STILL exists to this day.

Thanks PopT for the historical rundown of Keppel's Column ...now I even know it's name! :thumbsup:

My Dad took me to Kepples column in about 1948 or 49, he had a cushion on the crossbar of his bike which I had to straddle.
It was one of the most uncomfortable journeys of my life, we lived at that time on Papermill Rd at Shiregreen, so in real terms it was simply a ride up Deep Lane, right at the top, and on to Kimberworth.
I can remember him having to pay a penny to go to the top, I think I was allowed with him for "nowt" being but a bairn!!
The view from the top was fantastic, the site had surely been picked in the first place because of this.

Thanks for the memories. I had forgotten that it was Woolly Wood and Deep Lane and Keppel's Column.

A question arises from the info from PopT. are the Keppel's that you gave details of ancestors of the George Keppel who's wife Mrs. Keppel was the mistress of King Edward V11 and ggrandmother of Camilla. ??????

Cynthia, Ontario.

Cynthia

In reply to your question about the connections between Camilla Parker Bowles(Formerly Camilla Rose Shand) the answer is yes.

Camilla is connected down the family lineage to William Coutts Keppel who was the 7th Earl of Albemarle 1832-1917.

Admiral Augustus Keppel was the 2nd Earl of Albemarle in the1780's when he fell into disgrace but was reinstated.

George Keppel's wife was Alice Frederica Edmonstone who was a very close friend of King Edward the 7th.

She was Camilla's Great Grandmother.

Camilla's ancestry is very mixed, she is descended from French, American, Canadian and even German family with some good royal connectionswhich are too complicated to post here.

I hope this answers your question. I could have just written yes but I thought this titbit might interest you.

Happy Days!

Thanks PopT for all your info- I have heard ofall those places .I even lived on Honeysuckle Rd Shiregreen for a while so that is probably why it seemed familiar. Brilliant this Forum isn't it Sputnik Boy - the forumers always put you right.

Originally posted by nanrobbo
Thanks PopT for all your info- I have heard ofall those places .I even lived on Honeysuckle Rd Shiregreen for a while so that is probably why it seemed familiar. Brilliant this Forum isn't it Sputnik Boy - the forumers always put you right.

You bet, nanrobbo! In fact, I did a 'Google search' last night and I came up with an absolutely glorious panoramic 'air shot' of Keppel's Column and the surrounding area. It's almost a 3-dimensional photograph and I've made it my desk-top picture. I can't recall the exact site that I got it from but it was contained within the items on the first Schole's Coppice page. I would suggest you take a look at the picture. It's amazing.

I don't know if this is a sign of 'getting old' (shudder at the thought) but my visit to this forum has awoken in me a desire to retrace some of my past as a youngster. Please understand, much of that past in Sheffield has almost become surreal in my mind. I left the country when in my early teens, not too long after my 'release' from Fulwood Cottage Homes.

[i]Ori
Cynthiaginally posted by PopT [/i

Camilla's ancestry is very mixed, she is descended from French, American, Canadian and even German family with some good royal connectionswhich are too complicated to post here.

I hope this answers your question. I could have just written yes but I thought this titbit might interest you.

Happy Days!


Thanks for the info PopT, I found it very interesting. We do not know who our ancestors were until we start delving.
I found that through my paternal grandmothers ancestors we are connected to Lord Dudley & his concubine. Quote- 'A lewd woman'. That goes back to the late 1500s.

Cheers, Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

I was told that it was built by Admiral Keppel who used it as an observation tower to track deer for hunting. Makes sense as it is a fantastic view up that area. Years ago you could go up it but it is in need of restoration now but still worth a look

Originally posted by SputnikBoy
I seem to recall in the dim, distant past of my childhood a huge smoke stack looking affair - it was referred to as a tower, I believe - where one could climb to the top. It was located in an area known as Scoles Copice, although I'm not sure if I have the correct spelling. Did I dream up this place or did it- does it - exist?

If you go to the top of Grange Lane where it comes out near Thorpe Hesley (there is a chip shop on the corner on the right) and turn right (I think the road is called (New) Wortley Road), you will find Keppels Column a short distance along, on the left hand side.

It is clearly visible from the road and now stands just behind a new housing estate. I understand from a relative who lives in the area that there is a public footpath which leads to it but I have not personally tried to find this path.

I hope this is of some help to you. :)

http://www.geograph.org.uk/view.php?id=57740

thhere arre details on the link that says what I was going to say, about the building being unsafe, and therefore closed to public access.

I think that this is a shame.

PT

I had forgotten all about scholes coppice and the column. My dad used to take me for a walk every Sunday, we lived at Firth Park, and this was one of the places we used to walk to. Climbed to the top many times. On the way home we often used to take a wrong turn and end up in a coal mine. Does anyone remember the coal mine in that area?

Originally posted by coddy
I had forgotten all about scholes coppice and the column. My dad used to take me for a walk every Sunday, we lived at Firth Park, and this was one of the places we used to walk to. Climbed to the top many times. On the way home we often used to take a wrong turn and end up in a coal mine. Does anyone remember the coal mine in that area?

How come you 'often' made a wrong turn ...wouldn't you have caught on after your first mistake? :P

Thanks for your post.

Originally posted by SputnikBoy
I seem to recall in the dim, distant past of my childhood a huge smoke stack looking affair - it was referred to as a tower, I believe - where one could climb to the top. It was located in an area known as Scoles Copice, although I'm not sure if I have the correct spelling. Did I dream up this place or did it- does it - exist?

It stands at Scholes, a small village between Sheffiled and Rotherham and can be clearly seen from Ecclesfield or Lower Shiregreen.

Take the Upper Wortley Road From Chapeltown.

Simmo

SputnikBoy.....the reason we "often took a wrong turn" was because I was only a little girl at the time and of course dad was always right!!!! But he wasnt......cos I always am!

Originally posted by coddy
SputnikBoy.....the reason we "often took a wrong turn" was because I was only a little girl at the time and of course dad was always right!!!! But he wasnt......cos I always am!

Explanation accepted!!:thumbsup:

Thanks.

During the war my parents went to live in Deep Lane, Shiregreen, from where it was possible to see Keppel’s Column. We went there often, and many’s the time I climbed those steps. Half-way up there was an iron gate and a small room, although I don’t know what its purpose was. At the top there were high railings to prevent people from either falling over of jumping off — alhtough one or two did manage to jump off! The Wentworth Estate was not far from Keppel’s Column. There was an arch built (last time I saw it it was overgrown), ostensibly two inches wider than a horse-drawn carriage. There used to be a plaque there (since removed) that said it was built for a by Earl Fitzwilliam for a bet — his horseman against the proclaimed best in Yorkshire. The winner had to clear the arch without scraping the carriage. The arch had a half-mile run-up to it.
The plaque used to tell people that Earl Fitwilliam lost his bet. The best horseman in Yorkshire was indeed the best! The carriage was drawn by six horses.

It’s peterw again. Go to Google, type in keppels coppice and find a very striking picture

The below address presents a beautiful and stunning ariel photograph of Keppel’s Column and Keppel’s Field. It was photographed in 2004 by Kenny Fox. I’m currently using this magnificent picture as my desktop background. Hope it works for the rest of you. Please ...tell me if it does.

http://www.holisticfraternity.co.uk/Keppels.html

I used to walk from shiregreen to kepples column almost every sunday with mum and dad but never saw it open. The best i got was a leg up from my bro to the bit that sticks out at the bottom. We also used to go into the coppice where there was a proper chestnut tree and throw sticks up in order to knock them off the branches. My bro lives on the esate at the bottom and says the chestnut tree is still there.

I remember as a kid, biking from Wincobank to Keppels column, we also used to go down to Woolley Woods, and I too remember all the bluebells and bracken, is the woods still there, if so, is it safe these days for kids to play in.

I never went up the column, but went to Wentworth also on the bikes, it was like an adventure, as there was still countryside in late 60's, we used to sledge down Concord Park also, a bit off the subject.

Keppels Column was open still in the late 1950s maybe early 60s as I and two mates, Colin Bedell, and I think it was Arthur Burroughs, both from Shiregreen, climbed it for a penny (each I think). It was my self test to try to beat vertigo and it helped. Scholes as far as I recall was the area around the column - means a dense growth of bushes - but the bushes were a bit 'undense', by then. Still a terrific view though.
Up Grange Lane past the asylum...aha!- the Stinky River first then the rail line and ha'pennies on the track. I wanna come home Bwwwaa.

Met a girl called Elaine Pearson who was from the village nearby BTW, but we didn't get married I don't think...errr hmmmm?

D

In 1971 I went for a walk with a girlfriend up towards the column.
At one point we skirted a cowfield with an electrified fence around it. As I was holding Jill's hand, I touched the fence with my other hand. I didn't feel anything but she got a real belt!!
Suffice to say I wasn't Mr Popular that evening

We now know who Keppel was, but who was Schole??

Just wanted to bump this thread up again after 14 months. Does anyone else have any memories about Keppel's Column or have any updates with regard to its proposed restoration?

I lived on Molineaux Road,Shiregreen and used to walk there with my mate Graham.There was an old man sitting at the bottom who used to collect the one penny admission charge.I think the last time we went up was in 1963.

I lived on Molineaux Road,Shiregreen and used to walk there with my mate Graham.There was an old man sitting at the bottom who used to collect the one penny admission charge.I think the last time we went up was in 1963.

That's a new one, sirglyn, thanks. Any other memories or even present-day stories?

There is a room half way up the tower where you could sit and take a rest before continuing to the top. I'm told they used to sell refreshments as well. I was brought up on Kimberworth Park near to Scholes wood and used to play up near the tower. It has been closed up as long as I can remember and there have been numerous attempts to get it re-opened. There is also a story of a ghost that haunts the tower, it is supposedley of a woman who is seen to jump from the top!

I was brought up to believe that Scholes coppice was the column, then later I was told that the hill the column stands on was the coppice.

The Wentworth Estate incorporates quite a few "Follies", including of course Keppel's Column.

The Sheffield Forum Walker's Group are striding out on the Wentworth Estate today. :)

I often read their comments before and after their journey to different places around Sheffield and into Derbyshire......often the posts contain some great photos from Grissom and others, and I can well recommend the Group site to all the ex-pats from Sheffield.

Recently a link was placed in a post on SF with pictures of the other "Follies" on the estate, including the Hoober Stand.

This link was so informative I have it in my favourites. There are lots of photos and history on here

The Wentworth Estate "Follies" (http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/wfolly/index.htm)

I used to live quite near to Keppel's Column prior to getting married/moving elsewhere in the 1960's.

I remember as a kid, biking from Wincobank to Keppels column, we also used to go down to Woolley Woods, and I too remember all the bluebells and bracken, is the woods still there, if so, is it safe these days for kids to play in.

I never went up the column, but went to Wentworth also on the bikes, it was like an adventure, as there was still countryside in late 60's, we used to sledge down Concord Park also, a bit off the subject.

We still take the kids into Woolley Wood - it forms part of the Transpennine Trail. I spent my childhood playing in the woods (1970's), but I would be reluctant to let my boys play in there on their own now.

The golf course is still great to sledge down, although we haven't had enough snow to do it in recent years.:(

I was told that it was built by Admiral Keppel who used it as an observation tower to track deer for hunting. Makes sense as it is a fantastic view up that area. Years ago you could go up it but it is in need of restoration now but still worth a look

No, I assure you that POP T is absolutely correct in what he has written about Keppel's Column. A hundred percent spot on. It's looking a bit jaded now - indeel some parts of it have iron bands around it. It is the only one of the 'Fitzwilliam Follies' that does not belong to the Wentworth Estates. Its owner is Rotherham Council. I can see it from my living room window. Having said that, it must have been very well built. It has survived storms and gales for over two hundred years. It survived the horrendous gale of February 1962.

I read (somewhere on the net) a few months back that the cost to repair the column would be so exorbitant that it probably would never happen. So, it apparently stands there for no apparent purpose other than as a conversation piece. Does anyone see the day when it will be dismantled? I mean, it will only deteriorate further if suitable action isn't taken.

I only remember this monolith from way back in the past when I was taken to see it as a toddler by (I think) my mother. In fact, as I mentioned in my original post, I thought I might even have dreamed up the event and the actual column. And yet, I find something SO compelling about this rather unattractive looking tower since it has been 'brought back into my life', so to speak. The thought that it is perhaps considered to be so unworthy of restoration bothers me even though I'm on the other side of the world and probably won't get to see it again anyway. I guess that it's a link to my past that I'm unwilling to let go.

hi i went up keppels column with a few friends in 1983 illegally mind managed to sqeeze through a sheet of metal boarding up window fantastic views

I remember as a kid, biking from Wincobank to Keppels column, we also used to go down to Woolley Woods, and I too remember all the bluebells and bracken, is the woods still there, if so, is it safe these days for kids to play in.

I never went up the column, but went to Wentworth also on the bikes, it was like an adventure, as there was still countryside in late 60's, we used to sledge down Concord Park also, a bit off the subject.

wooley woods got a bit of a motorbike problem i ride through on my mountain bike then up to scholes coppice allthough you never see any kids playing like we all did very sad (playing nintendo or something)

The column was originally intended to be much higher than it is, with a large statue of Admiral Keppel at its top. That is why it is such a strange shape. No planning permission in those days - the rich pleased themselves. The field nearby was used for horse racing in the late 1700's. Must have been hell on earth for the horses, unless of course the ground was much flatter then. There is a booklet on the 'Rockingham Relics/Fitzwilliam Follies' on sale at Rotherham Library. It is really interesting and that is where my information comes from.

I was told that it was built by Admiral Keppel who used it as an observation tower to track deer for hunting. Makes sense as it is a fantastic view up that area. Years ago you could go up it but it is in need of restoration now but still worth a look

Are you getting confused with The Ladies' Folly at nearby Tankersley? This is another of those 'Rockingham Relics'. Nothing to do with Admiral Keppel, and has been demolished many a year. It was used as a hunting lodge at one time though.

hi i went up keppels column with a few friends in 1983 illegally mind managed to sqeeze through a sheet of metal boarding up window fantastic views

I'd love to hear more about this. Which of the windows did you manage to get thru' ...aren't they pretty high? I see that the lower one is even sealed. It's my understanding that the steps within have collapsed in sections. Did you find this to be the case or did the collapse occur between 1983 and present-day, perhaps? Anyway, if there is more that you can add then fire away.

I remember going up it when I was young. My brother was only tiny so it must have been late 40's early 50's...Couldn't even manage 6 steps now, let alone a hundred and odd.:suspect:
Then we would call at Wooley Woods as well, to pick a few bluebells to take home, always making sure that we didn't just slide them out of their shaft but broke them off instead, so that they would come again the next year.
My Great-Grand-dad used to live in Ecclesfield, so from Attercliffe where we lived, along Wooley Wood bottom and we would see both the Bluebells and Scholes Coppy (as my mom called it). Happy days.:)

Love the photo's people have posted. Ta:thumbsup:

During the war my parents went to live in Deep Lane, Shiregreen, from where it was possible to see Keppel’s Column. We went there often, and many’s the time I climbed those steps. Half-way up there was an iron gate and a small room, although I don’t know what its purpose was. At the top there were high railings to prevent people from either falling over of jumping off — alhtough one or two did manage to jump off! The Wentworth Estate was not far from Keppel’s Column. There was an arch built (last time I saw it it was overgrown), ostensibly two inches wider than a horse-drawn carriage. There used to be a plaque there (since removed) that said it was built for a by Earl Fitzwilliam for a bet — his horseman against the proclaimed best in Yorkshire. The winner had to clear the arch without scraping the carriage. The arch had a half-mile run-up to it.
The plaque used to tell people that Earl Fitwilliam lost his bet. The best horseman in Yorkshire was indeed the best! The carriage was drawn by six horses.

It's The Needle's Eye. Legend says that at a dinner party, a rather tipsy Charles, second Marquis of Rockingham, made a wager that he could drive 'a carriage and pair through the eye of a needle'. Hence his building of another Folly - this time in the shape of an eye in a needle. The Needle's Eye has recently been restored, and the ground around it cleared. It can be seen from opposite the lodge on the main road from Wentworth to Nether Haugh (Cortworth Lane). Also there is a public footpath from Coaley Lane to Elsecar, from which the monument can clearly be seen, as the path takes you very near to it. Locals call the area 'Bacon Fields'. Sadly, once again it is on private ground and cannot be approached.

I'd love to hear more about this. Which of the windows did you manage to get thru' ...aren't they pretty high? I see that the lower one is even sealed. It's my understanding that the steps within have collapsed in sections. Did you find this to be the case or did the collapse occur between 1983 and present-day, perhaps? Anyway, if there is more that you can add then fire away.
cant remember if it was window or the door but it had been vandalised(not us) any way we all climbed to top very scary as some steps were missing
we just stretched over them the stair case was a spiral at the top the railings were very rusty we moved to the edge very carefully it was fantastic inside on the stairs were loads of pigeon nests at the bottom we estimated that the pigeon droppings were about 10ft deep we had to climb up this it smelt terrible. looking back it was pretty stupid to go up but ime so glad now as a boring old adult that we did:)

Yes I have heard of Scholes Coppice (I think spelt so) but for the llife of me I can't remember anything about it. Ecclesfield???hi i think it was at wincobank i remember going there when i was a kid

In the late 40's when I was about nine or ten, I used to make a load of "folded paper aeroplanes" Walk all the way to Scholes from Shiregreen ...Take them to the top of the column and fly them..Some of them went miles....(little things please little minds my Mum used to say)

In the late 40's when I was about nine or ten, I used to make a load of "folded paper aeroplanes" Walk all the way to Scholes from Shiregreen ...Take them to the top of the column and fly them..Some of them went miles....(little things please little minds my Mum used to say)i agree we used to walk from carbrook and go to the top and eat our sandwiches and then walk home

my familly and friends have always called it Scholes Coppice maybe its an age thing as my girlfriend and her generation call it keppels column

Scholes Coppice is the wood near the column. If you have a look on multi map you can see it on there.

the wood behind keppels column scholes coppice has a strange formation of humps looks like an embankment of some kind any info?

They are bell pits. I believe they go back to medieval times and were small coal mines. The people dug down the spoil becoming the hill, and opened out a bell shaped hole underground. When they had mined the coal they moved onto the next hole probably before it became too dangerous. I remember from school we were taught about the monks from the nearby Kirkstead abbey who mined coal in this way. You can find the humps all over that area.

[QUOTE=Highnote;Keppels Column?I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived on Woolley Wood Rd Shiregreen [/QUOTE]
I can remember walking with my older brother from Woolly Wood Rd to Kepples Column, Scoles Copy we knew it as.... that would have been about 1954, i was 9 then, i remember we got inside and climbed the stairs to the first window which was quite high

Scholes coppice was indeed known as Keppels column. some reffered to it as scholes coppice and some as Keppels column.
indeed there are two roads named after this, Keppel rd in shiregreen (where I was brought up), and Keppel rd in Kimberworth. the column was a popular place to aim for as kids on our bikes. have spent many a sunday cycling from lower shiregreen up to scholes coppice during the late 60s and early 70s. we used to go through wooley woods which at the time was totally covered in Bluebells.:hihi: Happy memories
scholes coppice was the wood around kepples column i used go their collecting cnestnuts
it was an old penny to go up the column and the steps were well worn in them days
lived at

firth park at that time walked over bellhouse road then up grange lane that was in the war time

scholes coppice was the wood around kepples column i used go their collecting cnestnuts
it was an old penny to go up the column and the steps were well worn in them days
lived at

firth park at that time walked over bellhouse road then up grange lane that was in the war time

Thanks for bumping up this old thread. This gives newcomers to the board the opportunity to share their memories of Scholes Coppice and the column known as Keppell's. I'm still fascinated by a monolith I was taken to as a child that still stands both in my memory and in actuality.

Any updates re its restoration or its dismantling?

Am I the only one who actually went to the top of what we called Keppels Column?I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived on Woolley Wood Rd Shiregreen and I remember walking going there and ascending,I think for a penny,old money of course,soon after my Aunt said was closed for safety reasons,when?my overcrowded memory thinks just before the war

Sorry to spoil any glory, but happy to say I can join you in having been to the top of Keppel’s many times. There was a period when a charge of two old pennies was made, and there was a period when it was free. The old house nearby served a very nice cuppa with egg and lettuce (or cress) sandwiches. I believe the elderly man who lived at the house with his very cheerful wife was the Column’s caretaker.

If you remember, there was a sort of small, cell-like construction half way up. Never found out why it was there, though. The view from the top was great. You could see Hoober Stand (mentioned earlier), walk to the other side and Shiregreen was clearly visible. No chance of falling off the column because there were reasonably high iron railings surrounding the top.

Why is it too expensive to repair? Does anyone know if Rotherham council have a quote?
It might be incredibly expensive but surely its a part of local history that should be preserved. If the Council can't afford it then some preservation society or grant should be able to do something with it.

Why is nobody making a fuss about it?

Sorry to spoil any glory, but happy to say I can join you in having been to the top of Keppel’s many times. There was a period when a charge of two old pennies was made, and there was a period when it was free. The old house nearby served a very nice cuppa with egg and lettuce (or cress) sandwiches. I believe the elderly man who lived at the house with his very cheerful wife was the Column’s caretaker.

If you remember, there was a sort of small, cell-like construction half way up. Never found out why it was there, though. The view from the top was great. You could see Hoober Stand (mentioned earlier), walk to the other side and Shiregreen was clearly visible. No chance of falling off the column because there were reasonably high iron railings surrounding the top.

I believe the small, "cell-like" construction half way up, was, at some point, used as a urinal, at least it smelled that way when our gang of kids last went up around 1960 :gag:

Why is it too expensive to repair? Does anyone know if Rotherham council have a quote?
It might be incredibly expensive but surely its a part of local history that should be preserved. If the Council can't afford it then some preservation society or grant should be able to do something with it.

Why is nobody making a fuss about it?

Perhaps it needs a "Friends of Keppel's Column" or something similar - and an appeal to the Lottery Heritage Fund? http://www.hlf.org.uk/english

Why is it too expensive to repair? Does anyone know if Rotherham council have a quote?
It might be incredibly expensive but surely its a part of local history that should be preserved. If the Council can't afford it then some preservation society or grant should be able to do something with it.

Why is nobody making a fuss about it?

It's been some time since I checked this out but there ARE references on the Internet pertaining to the column and the estimated cost of repairs required to bring it up to scratch. I guess it's just a matter of typing in 'Keppel's Column' and navigating the links.

The problem is, the more procrastinating that is done the more expensive the repair bill becomes. As you say, why is nobody (or relatively few) making a fuss about it? It either has to be repaired eventually and opened up to the public (whose admission fees would eventually pay for the repairs anyway) or otherwise dismantled. The latter option would surely be criminal.

By the way, does anyone have any recent photographs of the column and the surrounds that they could present on this thread?

I've lived in scholes village all my life and my next door neighbour used to go up keppels column before it was closed to the public. I also know of someone who says they broke in and went up a couple of years ago but i'm not certain how true this is,as the door is very secure and i think there is even an iron grill over it too now.plus i've been told most of the lower steps have collapsed.

It was built in honour of admiral keppel who was cleared of cowardice by court marshall and was meant to be higher but funding ran out. The wider part in the middle is an optical illusion to give the impression that it is higher than it is.

As for people jumping from the top,I've never heard of any stories,although there is supposed to be a ghost of 'the grey lady' who appears at the top and jumps off. Apparently she commited suicide some time ago,not sure when or why,or even if its true. I've walked past keppels column or looked at it from my window many times,night and day, and never seen anything spooky but I have a friend who says he once saw a 'white figure' stood on the top.

As for restoration I don't think there are any plans,although I did recently see a man on the top with a hard hat on etc and a cherry picker (which im guessing is how he got up) so maybe he was doing some kind of safety check?
There is a steel brace around the column about a third of the way up to stop it collapsing (this is about the same height as the internal room) and there were new steel shutters placed over the windows.

There is a 'friends of keppel field' website but im not sure if they are more interested in preserving the wildlife than the column. Its a great shame that its just being left to rot,the council should restore it,im sure there must be some kind of grant available to fund it?

p.s I will have a walk up and take some pictures and post them on here.

p.s I will have a walk up and take some pictures and post them on here.

That would be great. Thanks.