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Castle Hill and the Victoria Tower

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  1. Victoria Tower Opening Hours 2024

    Admission charges are:

    Adult £2.40
    Child 65p
    Family £4.85 (2 adults and 2 children)

    Saturday 20th April - 12 noon to 4.30 pm

    Saturday 27th April - 12 noon to 4.30 pm
    Sunday 28th April - 12 noon to 4.30 pm

    Saturday 4th May - 12 noon to 4.30 pm
    Sunday 5th May - 12 noon to 4.30 pm
    Monday 6th May - 12 noon to 4.30 pm

    School Visits
    Non-Kirklees Schools
    Half day £111.00 + £32.50 admin costs (until 31st March 2025) (up to 3 hours)
    Full Day £190.00 + £32.50 admin costs (until 31st March 2025) (up to 6 hours)

    Kirklees Schools
    Half Day £78.00 + £32.50 admin costs (until 31st March 2025)(up to 3 hours)
    Full Day £119.00 + £32.50 admin costs (until 31st March 2025)(up to 6 hours)

    Access:
    TRAFFIC BARRIER CLOSURE TIMES:

    Nov to Feb : 4.30pm
    March to May: 7 pm
    June to Aug: 9 pm
    Sept to Oct: 7 pm

    Opening time daily: 7 am

    In case of difficulty:
    Ring 01484 226024
    Charges may apply

    Pedestrian access is by steep paths and a 'Hillside' byway to the summit where there is a car park. Paths to Victoria Tower from the car park are steep and uneven. Please be aware the access road is not suitable for large vehicles.

    The Tower can be accessed by steps only.

    Public Transport:

    341 Huddersfield-Almondbury-Stocksmoor

    For further information please contact Metroline on 0113 2457676

    Restrictions:

    There is a Public Order in place under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which prohibits any person that may light a firework, or releasing a sky lantern or a balloon on all Kirklees Council, Yorkshire Water and National Trust land. Fixed penalties are in place not exceeding £75.

    Dog Fouling: Please pick it up. It's unsightly, a health hazard and you can be fined.

    Drones: Please read the document below in regards to flying drones in public places.

    Fireworks, Fires, Barbeques and Camping are not allowed due to the damage that has been sustained to the ancient monument and vegetation. Castle Hill has unpredictable winds and kites must not be used in high winds.

    The use of kite buggies is discouraged due to the damage they can cause to the monument and in regard to safety for other visitors.

    Castle Hill has unpredictable winds for any kite flyer and they should not be used in high winds or thunderstorms. Overhead power cables are close to Castle Hill and kites should not be flown near them.

    Wildlife:

    The site contains a diverse mosaic of wildlife habitats and working with Natural England, Castle Hill is a designated Local Nature Reserve. There is a number of interpretation panels on footpaths on Castle Hill giving the visitor an insight into its history and wildlife.

    Motorbikes

    Bikers please be aware that riding on land not forming part of a road is an offence unless you have the express consent of the land owner. We have received a number of complaints regarding motorbikes be ridden over the features of Castle Hill. This is not permitted and is causing distress to members of the public. Section 59 of the anti-social behaviour act gives officers the power to seize vehicles that are being used in an anti-social manner. Castle Hill is a very special site and riding motorbikes causes damage and is dangerous. Please be aware that motorcycle officers are patrolling the area and will deal with any offending vehicles.

Contacts

Julian Brown

Castle Hill Ranger Street Scene and Housing, Flint Street, Fartown, Huddersfield HD1 6LG

07870 570914

Organisation last updated

  1. 18 April 2024

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Castle Hill and the Victoria Tower image

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Plans for improvements:-

  1. Green Flag Winner in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

    Managed by Kirklees Parks & Green Spaces, there is an ongoing programme of improvements for Castle Hill.

    Historic England and a range of local interest groups and residents are also involved in the planning of improvements for the future as part of the Castle Hill Management Advisory Group.

  2. 18/04/2024

History

  1. The history of human activity on the Castle Hill goes back over 4000 years. The site was developed as an iron age hill fort, surrounded by defensive ditches and ramparts. In the Middle Ages there was a castle on the hill, of which the well remains. The present tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897.

    Perched on Castle Hill, Victoria Tower was completed in 1899 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. The corner-stone of the tower was laid on 25 June 1898 by Mr John Frechville Ramsden and was officially opened by the Earl of Scarborough on 24 June 1899. The walls of the tower are four feet thick at the bottom, tapering to two feet at the top. The tower was renovated in 1960 when the top seven feet were removed. It reaches the height of almost 997 feet above sea level. In November 2012 the lantern light on top of Victoria Tower was replaced due to the original light that had failed. The red LED light on the top of the building meets aviation regulations and uses the same energy as a 35W bulb.

Further information

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