The widow's walk in Eccleshall

Imagine the sad putative widow - looking out to sea from this lofty perch, trying to see if her loved one will return, against the odds, safely from his ocean voyage.
At least, that's the romantic story of why these railed structures at the tops of houses are called 'widows' walks'.

However, in Eccleshall - where you'll find this example - you're about as far from the sea as you can be in England!
In fact, these structures are just rather elaborate architectural flourishes, with a rather down-to-earth secondary function - of allowing access to the chimney...

Ah well, it's still a lovely idea.