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May's Folly- to give its correct name - is a fairy tale, Gothic, octagonal tower rising to a height of 170 feet above the town of Hadlow in Kent. It is all that is now left of a once fine mansion that was built by Walter Barton May over an extended period ending in the 1840`s. Some additions were made later, but since the 1840's more has been removed, than has been added it would seem. The losses in modern years include the attached mansion itself in 1951, and more recently the 40 foot lantern, the base of which can just be seen today, protruding out from the top. This lantern was removed as a safety issue in 1996, after suffering damage in a storm some years earlier.

The original reason for its construction - if indeed a reason was needed - is uncertain though, but a couple of popular tales abound. First, is that May wished to see the ships passing by in the English Channel some 50 miles to the east. This feat would have proved rather difficult though as the South Downs would have obstructed his view. Secondly, some say that heart broken May built it to lure his wife back from the arms of a local farmer.
It could have been that the farmer in question also had a tower, and then no doubt May could claim the age old boast of "mine is bigger than yours" maybe, as whilst it is not the tallest folly tower in the country, it is a reasonably good contender. See Sway Tower, Hampshire    or Wainhouse's Tower
But the real truth behind the last theory was that May is reported as saying, that where ever she [ his wife]  roams in Kent she would have been reminded of him.


Fonthill Abbey
Its style, created by George Leadwell Taylor, was supposedly inspired by the ill fated Fonthill Abbey   built by Beckford in Wiltshire, in this case though the tower was of a sturdier construction.
Like other Victorian eccentrics, May also had a fixation with death. He had his own mausoleum built in the churchyard that was capable of accommodating him, once deceased, in a sitting up position. This was because of a family legend that the May's were not be buried underground, else the family may loose their estate. The mausoleum however remained empty, and May was dispatched in the conventional manner for that time, and ended up feeding the worms.

Whilst having been in need of restoration for many years, the need now is greater than ever, and a National Lottery grant of £1 million is being sought. This hopefully will mean that public access will be allowed to somewhere that a lot of people have seen from the outside, but have never had the opportunity to visit inside.

Footnote
The Grade 1 listed tower was in June 2000 up for sale with a modest £2.1 million reserve price on it.
This followed a long dispute with the then present owner and the local council who were concerned about its state of repair.

Co-Ords: 563410 149630 / TQ 634496  

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