Regimental no go ?

**Freelander Sporrano** · 23rd October 05, 10:51 AM

The new spinnaker tower in Portsmouth England has just opened after a delay of Five years. One of it's features is the largest glass floor in Europe.
Looks like fun

Here's the website
http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/home.htm

**Blu (Ontario)** · 23rd October 05, 11:19 AM

Awsome view! Although I suspect that in order to compromise your modesty, the person looking up would have to have quite powerful binoculars.!

BTW, the CN tower in Toronto also has a glass floor... it gives one a very unsettling feeling standing on it.

blu

**Iolaus** · 23rd October 05, 12:08 PM

Very powerful

**Graham** · 23rd October 05, 02:26 PM

Just another monstrous looking building in Portsmouth, someone has more money than sense, but it's not as ugly as the London Eye.

I hope that glass is strong!

**Hamish** · 23rd October 05, 02:30 PM

Yes, the Spinnaker Tower has finally opened - about a year later than expected and several million pounds over budget!! To cap it all, the glass observation lift, that runs up the outside of the tower, broke down at the official launch ceremony last week, with a whole load of officials and dignitaries stuck in it for several hours!!

The tower is just an hour's drive from here and so I really must make an effort to pop over and give it a once-over, but I'll wait a week or two until the school Half-Term holidays are over!!

I stood without qualms on the glass floor at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto when visiting there some nine years ago, and before I was into full-time kilting, so I'll have to get a photo of the Portsmouth 'experience' in one of my kilt!

**Riverkilt** · 23rd October 05, 03:23 PM

My thunder thighs would block the view of any curious folks

Ron

**GMan** · 23rd October 05, 07:12 PM

Just curious as to the reasons why it was erected? It does not seem to be of any function except perhaps to be a landmark for the area, which it definetly has made its statement.

I really don't think that I will visit it, unless of course when I go visit Ham he takes me there.

**Archangel** · 23rd October 05, 08:06 PM

Looks like pornographic architecture to me, but I'm making progress.

**Hamish** · 24th October 05, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by GMan

Just curious as to the reasons why it was erected? It does not seem to be of any function except perhaps to be a landmark for the area, which it definetly has made its statement.

I really don't think that I will visit it, unless of course when I go visit Ham he takes me there.

So Glen, you are planning a visit here?! That's GREAT! Just let me know when it's to be.

Funnily enough, I was thinking that this tower and the historic Portsmouth naval dockyard (with many wonderful exhibits, including HMS Victory and the Mary Rose) close to it, would make a great day out if and when I organise a Kilted Gathering**.

I have not yet been close to the tower (I was at the Portsmouth Grammar School back in the 1940s/50s about a mile from where the tower now stands), but it can be seen for many miles around the city and, I must admit, it looks quite stunning. My understanding is that it was planned originally to celebrate the Millennium and to form a focal point for the extensive opening-up and redevelopment of the former premier British naval base. The area around the tower was part of the highly secure base, but is now being redeveloped with luxurious apartment blocks, high profile shopping, restaurants and entertainment complexes.

** Don't all rush! I've not thought it out yet!!