B  o  o  t ' s    F  o  l  l  y




If you care to don your hiking boots and savour the astonishing beauty of Yorkshire, you will find on Bradfield Moor the 50 acre Strines reservoir which helps the good people of Sheffield with their water supply. The eye of any folly enthusiast will though be instantly drawn to Boot's Folly that sits isolated on a small ridge to the SE, overlooking the 453 million gallons of water that the reservoir is capable of holding.

Photo Submitted by,
and Copyright of :-
Matt Waite.

Photo Submitted by and Copyright of :- Matt Waite.

It was built by Mr Charles Boot in the relatively recent time of 1927, to provide work during the depression.
Eight years later Faringdon Tower went up,   and that unfortunately marked the end of 'full size' folly building as we know it in this country.
Considering its age Boot's tower is now in a poor state of repair. It was originally rather well appointed inside for a folly tower with wood panelling being used on the interior walls, but this has all virtually disappeared.

I was contacted by a grandson of Charles Boot who informed me that at one time a cow wandered inside and managed to climb the stairs before getting stuck at the top. The poor beast was eventually rescued safely, but the lower part of the staircase was subsequently removed.
A similar thing also occurred at Curry Rivel     in Somerset, although in that instance I find it hard to believe as that one has a spiral staircase to the top. The remaining part of this towers wooden staircase is still in evidence though, as can be seen on page 2 - link below.


Interior page 2   


A Winters Day   


Charles Boot incidentally was related to the Boot family of Henry Boot who are now a large UK civil engineering company. Charles at the time was living nearby at Sugworth Hall, situated several miles to the south of the folly.



Visiting:-
 Easily accessible, if you like a good hike.

Co-ords 423070 389905 / SK 230899  

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