John Edward Wainhouse inherited his uncle’s  

 Dyeworks on Washer Lane Halifax in 1854. Dyeworks was the source of much pollution.  In 1853, the government passed the Smoke Abatement Act in 1853 to handle such instances of pollution such as in Halifax

     John Wainhouse  developed a plan to build a chimney 350 meters up the hill from Dyeworks connected to it by an underground flu.

  The original architect for this project was Isaac Booth.  The original design incorporated a staircase that led to fourth floor balcolny.

     Work commenced on the chimney project in 1871.  Locally quarried stone was used in the construction.  Isaac Booth resigned from the project.  A new architect was chosen from the project–Richard Swarbrick  Dugdale.

   The building was completed in 9 September 1875.  9000 pounds of material were used in construction.  Total cost was 15,000 pounds.

     The tower was never used as a chimney

     In 1874, Wainhouse sold the Dyeworks to the previous manager Henry Massman.  The sale did not include the tower

    The tower and 3 adjacent acres were sold at auction in 1887.  Ownership of the tower came under of Halifax  Corporation in 1919.