Brown's Folly (tower)

Brown's Folly is a folly tower on the Farleigh Rise near the village of Bathford in Somerset, England. The Folly was designated a Grade II listed building in 1988.[1] It gave its name to Brown's Folly, a 100 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest, notified in 1974.[2]

Brown's Folly. The Folly was once a prominent feature of the area, but has become obscured by the surrounding woodland

The tower was built in 1845 by Colonel Wade Browne, the squire of Monkton Farleigh Manor, to provide employment during an agricultural recession.[2] It replaced a semaphore tower which had previously stood on the site.[3]

The tower has a square plan and tapers as it rises. The upper stage has round arched openings and balustraded handrails, although the balustrading is missing on the north and west sides.[4]

In 1907 the tower was renovated by the owner of the estate, Charles Hobhouse, who had his shooting parties meet at the tower.[5][6] Demolition was suggested in 1938 but did not take place.[7] The Folly is structurally sound, but is not currently open to the public. Since 1998 it has been maintained by the Folly Fellowship who replaced the roof.[5]

A depiction of the Folly appears on the unofficial coat of arms of Bathford Parish Council.[8]

References
  1. "Brown's Folly". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. "Brown's Folly", Avon Wildlife Trust, retrieved 18 August 2011
  3. "£75,000 awarded to Browne's Folly site" (PDF). Foll-e. 34. 2011.
  4. "Brown's Folly". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  5. "Brown's Folly - The Tower". Derelict Places. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  6. "Browne's Folly Appeal" (PDF). Follies. 9 (3): 3. 1997.
  7. "Bathford Hill Woods and Brownes Folly Reserve" (PDF). Bathford. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  8. "Bathford Parish Council". Civic Heraldry. Retrieved 18 September 2016.

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