L  u  t  t  r  e  l  l  `s    T  o  w  e  r

It`s probably not unknown for a yacht sailing into Calshot or Southampton, to inadvertently have an odd bottle of whisky or sherry laying forgotten in one of its lockers. So it would not be classed as smuggling when it is not declared to customs, more a case of an innocent mistake or lapse of memory.
The local tale has it that in the past people had three Custom and Excise options to choose from in this area, the red channel, the green channel, or Luttrell`s tower, and for this reason the tower saw many a nocturnal activity.

Photographs Submitted by and copyright of Gary Player


Luttrell the Smuggler
It was built in the 1780`s for a Mr Temple Simon Luttrell by Thomas Sandby. It has three storeys with it is said an extensive cellar, from which there is a tunnel that leads directly to the beach, exiting in the cliff face below.

The inside of the tower is finely decorated inside, and unlike many a folly tower this was built to be habitable when needed, so therefore it is not actually a folly in the true sense.

How do you construct a tower, which considering its position and tunnel to the beach had one sole purpose, and avoid being apprehended for smuggling ? You smuggle in contraband for the right people, in Mr Luttrell`s case the then Prince Regent.
Unfortunately for Luttrell the French were not of the same mind as the Prince Regent, and imprisoned him for several years.

Visiting:-

The tower is now owned by the Landmark Trust who own many follies and rent them out as holiday accommodation, it is not open to the public however, the property can be viewed from the beach though.

Co-Ords: 447690 100960 / SU 476009  

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