N  o  r  e    F  o  l  l  y

     Photo Submitted by, and Copyright of :- Carl Curtis.

This is a particularly curious affair, close to Slindon in Sussex and offering some fine panoramic views. Most follies normally fall into one of several categories, be it either a tower, obelisk, memorial, or an 'eye-catcher' - defined as something to be viewed in the distance, often from the landowners home.

Sham ruins are another popular favourite, the castle at Wimpole Hall   being an example, but occasionally you can be just plain baffled as to why someone built a structure.
A good example is the Nore Folly. It was built by the 3rd Earl of Newburgh in the mid 18th century, despite it looking like a later 19th century tunnel entrance to one of the many railway lines that were being built at that time.

The local legend is that the Countess asked for it to resemble an Italian arch that was portrayed in a print she owned. The Countess was married to the third Earl between 1749 and 1786, so the folly presumably dates to that period.
There was at one time a thatched pavilion behind the folly that was used by the Earl to entertain his guests, and also no doubt to discuss - out of the Earl's earshot - the true reason behind the follies design.
Only the Earl and the builder, a local man named Samuel Refoy, can really help us on this point, and sadly they are no longer available to enlighten us.

Further Photographs   

Co-Ords: 495510 109540 / SU 955095  

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