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