Have you ever stumbled upon a strange tower in the middle of the woods or a giant concrete pineapple rising out of the countryside and wondered, "what on earth is that?" Chances are, you‘ve discovered one of Britain‘s many fascinating follies.
A folly is defined as an often extravagant or whimsical building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose. In 18th century Britain, wealthy aristocrats commissioned these structures to adorn their vast country estates. While some served functional purposes like hunting lodges or observation towers, many were simply built on a lark to amuse and delight (or perplex) visitors.
Today, hundreds of historic follies dot the British landscape, each with its own unique story to tell. Join me on a tour of eight of the most intriguing and delightfully odd of Britain‘s best follies.
1. The Dunmore Pineapple
We begin in Scotland with a folly that really exemplifies the phrase "too much of a good thing." The Dunmore Pineapple is a hothouse building topped with a 14-meter high stone pineapple. It was constructed in 1761 by the eccentric Earl of Dunmore, who was obsessed with the exotic fruit after encountering it on a trip to the West Indies.
At the time, pineapples were extremely rare and expensive in Europe. Growing the coveted fruit in the chilly Scottish climate was a complicated endeavor requiring an elaborate hothouse. Not satisfied with that level of horticultural excess, the Earl decided to place a giant 14-meter high sculpted pineapple atop the building, making it visible for miles. Because why not?
The pineapple-topped hothouse produced the fruit for the Earl‘s table until 1776. Today, the building has been restored and you can even stay overnight in the quirky pineapple tower through the Landmark Trust.
2. The Rushton Triangular Lodge
Our next stop takes us to Northamptonshire, England to visit the Rushton Triangular Lodge. Built in 1593 by Sir Thomas Tresham, this three-sided tower is a testament to the builder‘s devout Catholic faith.
Every aspect of the design evokes the Holy Trinity, with the three walls each measuring 33 feet (representing the years of Jesus‘ life), three levels, and three triangular windows on each side. The Latin inscription "Tres Testimonium Dant" ("There are three that give witness") is carved around the building. Even the chimney is in the shape of a trefoil (three-leaf clover).
What makes this folly particularly fascinating is the story behind its construction. Tresham built the lodge on his release from a 15-year imprisonment for refusing to become a Protestant. The Triangular Lodge was his creative and symbolic way of quite literally architecturally expressing his faith.
3. Lord Berner‘s Folly
No roundup of Britain‘s best follies would be complete without Lord Berner‘s Folly, also known as the Faringdon Tower. This circular six-story tower rises above a scenic woodland in Oxfordshire.
It was built in the 1930s for Lord Berners, an eccentric composer, painter and novelist described by some as "the last great English eccentric." Berners regularly hosted a dazzling array of celebrities at his Faringdon estate like HG Wells, Salvador Dali, and Igor Stravinsky.
One account holds that the tower was built so Berners and his guestscould have a more elevated spot from which to watch the hunt. Another claims it was a gift for his lover, Robert Heber-Percy. Either way, the 100-foot high tower is a striking and atmospheric spot that perfectly matches Lord Berner‘s creative whimsy.
Today, you can climb to the top of the folly for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The tower also serves as the Faringdon Folly Woodland Walk, with trails meandering through the scenic woods at its base.
4. Peterson‘s Folly (Sway Tower)
For our next folly, we travel to the village of Sway in Hampshire to see the Sway Tower, also known as Peterson‘s Folly. At over 200 feet tall, it‘s the tallest non-reinforced concrete structure in the world.
It was built between 1879-1885 by the Victorianspiritualist and judge Andrew Thomas Turton Peterson. After an adventurous early life traveling the world, Peterson retired to Sway and built a series of structures on his estate as a philanthropic effort to provide employment for locals.
The design of Sway Tower was said to have been dictated to Peterson by the spirit of none other than famed architect Sir Christopher Wren. While that claim may be dubious, Peterson and Wren did share an interest in the cutting edge building material of concrete. At the time of its construction, the use of concrete was still a relatively new development.
The Admiralty ordered electric lights planned for the top be removed, fearing the tower would endanger ships in the nearby Solent. Today, you can still climb the 330 steps to admire the view from the top, perhaps communing with the spirit of Sir Christopher Wren while you‘re up there.
5. Broadway Tower
Perched dramatically atop the second highest point in the Cotswolds, Broadway Tower is the quintessential romantic folly. This regal Saxon-style castle was designed by architect James Wyatt in 1794 for Lady Coventry.
The story goes that Lady Coventry wondered if a beacon lit on the hill would be visible from her house 22 miles away in Worcester. To satisfy her curiosity, she funded the construction of the 65-foot high tower and to her delight, was able to clearly see it from home.
Over the years, Broadway Tower served as everything from a country retreat for artists like William Morris to a wartime lookout post. During the Cold War, it monitored nuclear fallout.
Now the tower is a popular tourist attraction, with a series of exhibits on three floors highlighting the fascinating history of the building. On a clear day, you can see up to 16 counties from the rooftop viewing platform.
6. Hawkstone Park Follies
While most of the follies we‘ve visited so far are solitary structures, the Hawkstone Park Follies in Shropshire are an entire pleasure ground of dramatic garden buildings and monuments.
Hawkstone Park was laid out in the 18th century by Sir Rowland Hill and his son, Sir Richard, and is considered one of the finest examples of the English landscape garden style.
The park‘s whimsical collection of arches, alcoves, towers, and tunnels were built to inspire a sense of awe and curiosity as visitors explored the grounds. With evocative names like The Cleft, The Awful Precipice, and The Grotto Hill Priory, each folly was designed to surprise and delight at every turn.
After falling into disrepair in the 20th century, the park has been restored and the follies stabilized so modern visitors can step back in time to experience the wonder of this historic pleasure ground.
7. Rushton Triangular Lodge
We end our folly tour back where we started, with another triangular lodge commissioned by Sir Thomas Tresham. Just a stone‘s throw from the Rushton lodge we visited earlier sits his earlier effort – the Lyveden New Bield.
This remarkable Elizabethan lodge was constructed between 1595-1605 but never completed. The shell still stands today, allowing us a glimpse into what Tresham had planned.
Like the Rushton Lodge, the New Bield is designed around Tresham‘s Catholic faith and fascination with symbolism and numbers. The floors are laid out in a Greek cross pattern, each exterior wall is 33 feet long, and biblical numbers like 3, 4, 5, and 7 are repeated throughout.
Tresham had grand designs for the rest of the estate, with snail mounts, an orchard, moat, and extensive gardens sketched out in his plans. But he died in 1605 with the lodge unfinished and the grounds barely started.
Over 400 years later, the hauntingly atmospheric remains of Lyveden New Bield still stand, a testament to Tresham‘s architectural genius and the enduring fascination of the folly.
Finding Britain‘s Follies
These eight incredible structures offer just a glimpse into the weird and wonderful world of Britain‘s follies. With so many more to discover, you could spend a lifetime seeking out these historic oddities in the most scenic corners of the British countryside.
For those interested in planning their own folly adventure, resources like the Folly Fellowship offer excellent databases and guides to help you find and learn more about these beguiling buildings.
Whether you prefer a romantic tower or a mind-bending triangular lodge, Britain‘s follies are sure to spark your imagination and inspire your own flights of architectural fancy. So the next time you spot a mysterious tower looming out of the woods, take a closer look – you may have just stumbled upon one of Britain‘s best follies.
