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To the south of Yeovil you will find Barwick Park, the home at one time of George Messiter, and the home also of four of the strangest follies that you are likely to find.
If I was to build a folly myself, equipped as I am with a total lack of building skills, the end result would probably bear a resemblance to these.

Pieces of Rubble
Instead of the usual smooth uniform finish that brick or stone blocks give, we have what appears to be pieces of rubble roughly cemented together. This though only describes the appearance of the actual surface, the structures themselves are also unique in their design.


Click On The Relevant Picture

The Barwick Four
In reverse order we have [top left] The Obelisk    
Apart from the rough surface finish, a 'basic' uninspiring obelisk.


Next we have [bottom left] The Fish Tower     ,
Slightly bizarre, but nothing to worry about.


Number three in our collection is [top right] The Cone   , here you enter the realm of serious debate, as to what it might resemble.


Then for sheer unusual design and ingenuity in its construction, the number one spot is filled by [bottom right] Jack the Treacle Eater.   

Jack's overall appearance however, comes the closest to that of a normal structure, in that the top part looks to be built with a more conventional appearance to its finish.

Why and When
The reason behind the follies is unknown, the best story, in other words the most unlikely, is attached to Jack the Treacle Eater. This is naturally to be expected, given its name, and is told on the relevant page.
Apart from the debate on the follies appearance, the date of construction is also somewhat uncertain. The local story is the one that is often found elsewhere attached to follies, that being where the local benevolent landowner provides work for the unemployed, in this instance around 1820. The 'spanner in the works' comes from two paintings of Barwick house from around 1770, where two of the follies can apparently be seen.

The follies are now owned by Somerset County Council, who purchased the four of them for £5 (five UK Pounds), in the 1990's.

  

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