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Built in 1848 by a Mr Wade Brown who owned the local quarry, this rather dilapidated folly sits on Farleigh Rise overlooking the city of Bath. It can be glimpsed on your right hand side from the Warminster Road, high amongst the trees as you wind your way down the hill on the approach to the city. It has an Italian look to the top, but otherwise is rather plain.














In Need of Attention
The folly has now had a roof placed on it since my last visit, but the interior is still in a very poor state.
The story of its construction is the usual one of the benevolent owner providing work during a time of depression. However with Beckford`s Tower dominating the city to the north for the past 15 years prior to its construction, an element of 'getting in on the act' probably came into play when Mr Brown had it built. Sadly, Wade Brown died only 3 years after the folly was finished.
Above the entrance door is a plaque with the initials 'W B 1848' and underneath 'C H 1907', the latter referring to Sir Charles Hobhouse who owned the estate in 1907, when he adapted the folly for use as a hunting lodge. The extensive underground workings of the quarry that lay under the surrounding hill were later put to a military use in the 1930`s for ammunition storage.

Photographs of Interior



The folly is situated in a country park and as the area is heavily wooded can be difficult to find.
The whole area around the tower is open to the public, the tower itself though is closed.

Co-Ords: 379490 166060 / ST 794660  

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