Scrambling up the 400 or so steps takes visitors to a magnificent gallery with panoramic views of the Calder Valley, Norland Moor, Elland, Halifax and even the high rise flats in Mixenden.
But a tour of the private upper balcony, some 25 steps higher, and stiff climb up two vertical ladders to the pinnacle reveals a monument in need of some tender loving care.
Rain has crept in to the mortar joints causing it to perish and rust away the original iron fixings which hold in place huge lumps of decorative stonework.
Even to the untrained eye, it is apparent that Calderdale Council was right to close the tower when it did to aleviate any danger from falling masonry.
Haven Building & Maintenance Ltd, of Holywell Green, took three weeks to weave an intricate web of scaffolding around the crown of the 250ft structure.
And Stone Technical Services, of Darlington, expects to spend the next six months surveying and repairing the landmark so that it can reopen to the public.
Records suggest that apart from a bit of cement, and attention to the lightning conductor, the tower has never undergone major repairs which is a credit to the Victorian architects and engineers who built it.
It is not the biggest or most prestigious project that restoration supervisor Ian Clegg has worked on – those include St Paul's Cathedral and more recently, Heptonstall Parish Church – but it is one of the most unusual.
"From what we have seen so far, there is no danger of it falling down because it is built into the bed rock and because it has never been stone cleaned, like many buildings, it has developed a protective skin and is well preserved.
"But we are going to have to do a lot of grouting and repointing, and replace some of the decorative stone which has either been damaged by the metal fixings or has simply fallen off," he said.
The highly decorative coronet contains rows of prism-like glass bricks, presumably i nstalled to reflect the sunlight but considerably dulled by age.
Calderdale Council's regeneration and development spokesman David Kirton, who has been to the top, hopes these will come into their own when a new blue beacon is installed as part of the scheme.
"This is an incredible monument and we need to look after it and make more of it, perhaps by creating a visitor centre at the base, as well as well as carefully restoring it for future generations to enjoy," said Coun Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe).
While visitors will continue to have to climb the steps to admire the views, the contractors have installed a powered cradle to get them and their tools up and down.
But it's still a long way to travel, if you forget your trowel!
michael.peel@halifaxcourier.co.uk