F i r l e   T o w e r

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West Firle is a small village, close to the Sussex towns of Brighton and Lewes. Firle is derived from an old anglo-saxon word, "fierol", meaning 'overgrown with oak'. The village is mentioned in the Domesday book, as "Ferla". Firle Place, a Georgian manor house, and the seat of the Viscount Gage, has been the home of the Gage family since the 15th century. South of the village are the South Downs, and the Firle Beacon, nearly 700ft above sea level, it once being lit as part of a warning system during the Spanish Armada, 1588.

Approximately a quarter of a mile East of Firle Place, in parkland, one comes across Firle Tower. It is squat, comprising 3 stories, and is fat and round, with very large castellations. The Tower's body is dressed in flint. It was built by the Viscount Gage in 1822 as a residence for his gamekeeper.

The gamekeeper would signal with flags to his employees around the park, and to another keeper, at a lodge at Plashett deer Park in Ringmer, approximately 7 miles away.

Today, it is now a private residence.

 

Visiting:- The tower is built on private land, but good views can be obtained from the road that runs down from the A27 to it, Brighton Street. It is also worth noting that it can clearly be seen from the South Downs.

Below: The tower and its all seeing view over the woodlands.

Co-ords TQ481072......548100,107200

 

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