Peel Monument vs Darwen Tower

Height	39m	26m
Year	1852	1898
Location	Holcombe Hill, Ramsbottom, Bury, Lancs	Darwen Moor, Blackburn with Darwen, Lancs
Synonymns	Peel Monument, Holcombe Tower	Darwen Tower, Jubilee Tower
Height above sea level	335m	374m
Architect/ Builders	William Grant	James Whalley
Commemorating	Sir Robert Peel, former Tory Prime Minister, textile capitalist, and founder of the modern Police force; “Bobbies or Peelers”	Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and also to celebrate the victory of the local people for the right to access the moor.
Access	Peel Tower is open to the public when the flag is flying from the top, but these occasions are limited. It was closed when I went.	Open all times. Access via an internal spiral staircase. The tower dome came off during strong winds on 11 November 2010. A replacement powder-coated stainless steel dome made by WEC Group of Darwen, which cost more than £35,000, was winched into place by helicopter on 13 January 2012.
Views	Ramsbottom Moor, Manchester, into Cheshire basin, some of North Wales.	North Yorkshire,  Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Tower,Cumbria, the Isle of Man, North Wales,  Derbyshire, elsewhere in Lancashire, and surrounding moorland.
Steps	148	65 stone + 17 iron = 82
Cost	£1000 by public subscription.	£650 devoted in aid of the Nursing Association by public subscription.
Aesthetic Opinion	Manchester Evening News: Peel Monument is “not a specimen of architectural beauty"	James Jarret: “The finest Prospect Tower in Lancashire”

The Verdict

I’m all behind Darwen Tower in this architectural face off. Sure, its shorter, cost less to build, and looks like a 1950’s Pinewood Studios space rocket. But it was built to commemorate free access to the moor, which resulted from hard fought and bloody battles with greedy landowners. Plus the view from Darwen Tower is pretty phenomenal too. All Peel Monument can boast is testament to twice Tory PM Robert Peel, founder of the rozzers. No contest!

North Utsire