史書記(ji)載(zai)始修于清道光(guang)十(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元1833年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),道光(guang)十(shi)(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1835年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))落成(cheng),但據民(min)間傳說(shuo),清嘉慶年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,這里(li)原有(you)一座木塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta),年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)久失修而坍塌,后募(mu)捐(juan)重修,建明(ming)無扎(zha)架(jia),周(zhou)圍堆起土(tu)(tu)圍,隨塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)升高,塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)成(cheng)將土(tu)(tu)運走,前后修了20年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)為青磚(zhuan)料石(shi)(shi)結構。據碑文記(ji)載(zai):“塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)基(ji)壓漿灌縫(feng)二十(shi)(shi)四(si)層(ceng),中(zhong)鎮(zhen)金(jin)色(se),四(si)周(zhou)嵌(qian)(qian)珠玉。”塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)高42米,八(ba)角形,角上(shang)嵌(qian)(qian)石(shi)(shi)舫,狀如翹角,覆鐵瓦,鑄(zhu)銅頂(ding),塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)正門(men)書“北(bei)門(men)鎖鑰(yao)”四(si)字,兩(liang)邊對聯曰:“正欲(yu)(yu)憑窗欄(lan)舒遠(yuan)目,直順(shun)循級(ji)(ji)上(shang)高樓。”塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)中(zhong)有(you)相對螺旋磚(zhuan)階直升塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)頂(ding),共492級(ji)(ji),塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)內七(qi)層(ceng),層(ceng)層(ceng)壁畫,書法及捐(juan)款人姓氏石(shi)(shi)刻。登(deng)(deng)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)憑窗,遠(yuan)處(chu)群山疊翠,腳下資(zi)水流(liu)碧,梅城古(gu)貌盡收眼底(di),歷來名人登(deng)(deng)臨,賦詩(shi)甚多。明(ming)參政胡有(you)恒有(you)登(deng)(deng)北(bei)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)絕頂(ding)詩(shi):“江流(liu)去處(chu)空,一塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)鎖奔(ben)欲(yu)(yu)。勢鎮(zhen)縣之北(bei),氣雄資(zi)以(yi)東(dong)。舉(ju)頭疑日盡,長嘯直天通(tong)。擬(ni)更探奇勝,西南首(shou)望崇(chong)。”
解放后,由于柘溪水(shui)庫關閘蓄水(shui),資(zi)江(jiang)水(shui)位不(bu)斷上升,漫及(ji)塔(ta)基。1979年(nian)(nian),上級撥款沿資(zi)水(shui)河岸,修建了北(bei)塔(ta)護衛堤(di)。堤(di)高10米,寬10米,長1500米,在通常20年(nian)(nian)一(yi)遇的特大洪水(shui)暴(bao)發時,可保塔(ta)基不(bu)被淹滅。
據(ju)清同治(zhi)《新(xin)化縣志(zhi)》載,縣治(zhi)西南高而(er)東(dong)北陷,需建(jian)閣以鎮之(zhi),乃創木(mu)閣,久之(zhi)傾圯。議建(jian)石(shi)塔(ta),因其(qi)地低陷,多浮沙,屢(lv)議不果,嘉(jia)慶十一年(nian)(1806),始掘地3.6丈(zhang), 因資金(jin)缺乏,兩(liang)次(ci)停工。道光十四年(nian)(1834)秋落成(cheng)(cheng),塔(ta)為(wei)八角(jiao)七(qi)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),高13.85丈(zhang)。層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)與(yu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)之(zhi)間(jian)突出短檐, 角(jiao)上鑲嵌石(shi)舫,似翹角(jiao),銅頂鐵瓦,底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)青石(shi)方塊(kuai),塔(ta)體純青磚(zhuan)(zhuan)砌成(cheng)(cheng)。塔(ta)內有要對螺(luo)旋磚(zhuan)(zhuan)階(jie)上升,共492級。工藝精巧。雖歷經一個半(ban)世紀的(de)風雨滄桑(sang),至今仍巍然屹立。