Huddersfield Sailing Club Race Control Tower

A 385-meter tall television mast, which was the after 412 metres tall Gufuskular Radio Mast at Hellissandur, Iceland the second tallest structure in Europe at those days, was built in Emley Moor in the United Kingdom in 1964, but it wouldn’t remain a television tower for long. Built as a replacement for the nearby tower whose 135-meter height didn’t allow for a large broadcasting range, the new Emley Moor tower collapsed in March 1969. Heavy icing and bad weather brought it down. During the fall, the tower sliced a nearby church’s mast in half.

A new Emley Moor television tower was eventually built—and it’s currently the tallest free-standing tower in the United Kingdom—but the collapsed tower would find a new life too. It was brought to the Huddersfield Sailing Club and turned into a race control tower at the boathouse. Even the door of the tower is the same as that used in the former television mast.

About 1.5 miles south of Holmfirth, Huddersfield is a family-oriented club based at Boshaw Whams Reservoir. Built in 1958, Huddersfield includes ample boat and car parking, a spacious observation lounge, kitchen, and changing rooms. The season runs from April to early December.