S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e  B o u r b o n  T o w e r

A short march across the Cavalry Drill Park field, from the Duke's Obelisk, and at the highest point in the field, stands the bulging Bourbon Tower. It is widely thought to have been designed by James Gibbs at around 1740-1741. However, it is suggested it may not have been Gibbs, but Lord Cobham or even Lancelot Brown's design. its construction began at around the same time the Iron stone, Gothic Temple to the southwest was being constructed. The tower was built as a Keeper's Lodge, so a residing game-keeper could watch over the old deer park, the fields north of the gardens, that were often frequented by poachers.

The Royal House of Bourbon

In 1808, the Lodge was renamed the Bourbon Tower when King Louis XVIII and his family visited Stowe for several days during his exile. The Marquess of Buckingham was helping Louis financially, his entire family were now renting nearby Hartwell Hall in Aylesbury, after moving from Gosfield Hall in Essex.

The King, and the other French male royal family members, each planted an oak tree around the Bourbon Tower, in a ceremony that is recorded in a guidebook of 1817, and translated from latin:

"To perpetuate the recollection of the period during which the members of the ROYAL HOUSE OF BOURBON, Illustrious by their constancy under adversity, condescended to reside under the roof Of the GRENVILLE Family, THESE OAKS, planted by the hands of: LOUIS XVIII, the King of France and Navarre, CHARLES PHILIP, the King's Brother, LEWIS ANTHONY, the King's Nephew, CHARLES FERDINAND, the King's Nephew, LEWIS PHILIP, the Duke of Orleans, LEWIS CHARLES, the Count of Beaujolie, LEWIS JOSEPH, the Prince of Conde, LEWIS HENRY, the Duke of Bourbon."

Bourbon Tower, The Fort.

The building was originally topped by a very sharp conical roof, rising at an angle of some 45 degrees. It also stood on level ground.

Significantly altered, by the 2nd duke of Buckingham and Chandos in 1843, its moat and redoubt, along with its new flat roof and 24ft octagonal turret, designed by the Architect Edward Blore, transformed the tower from a Keeper's Lodge into a fortified, military out-post.

The building has four floors, a kitchen and scullery on the ground, 2 bedrooms on the first and second floors, and the third floor is the living area, lit only by skylights in the flat roof. A spiral stone staircase connects all the floors.

Four original towers that stood around the main one were demolished by the duke, and the redoubt and moat were constructed in their place. Gunpowder stores were installed under the redoubt, and a cannon was mounted on the western side. The duke was a Colonel Commandant in the second regiment of the Yeomanry Cavalry, so the tower was used to provide the regiment with firing practice of the cannons, and for saluting the arrival of important visitors to Stowe via the North gates.

Dereliction

Today, The Bourbon Tower is in a horrible state of repair and should not be closely approached, due to the risk of falling masonry. During the summer months the moat is entirely overgrown with nettles making it thankfully, virtually impossible to reach. At the time of writing the entrance to the tower was in the process of being permanently sealed, perhaps for the time being, scuppering any future plans for any restoration to the tower.

Below: The Bourbon Tower's redoubt and surrounding oak tree plantations.

 

 

 

Bookmark this Page    

Reproduction of part or all of the contents of any of these pages is prohibited except to the extent permitted below.
These pages may be downloaded onto a hard disk or printed for your personal use without alterations. Any other use needs consent of the web site owner Mr C Curtis :- see Contact Page. These pages may not be included in any other work or publication, or be distributed or copied for any commercial purpose except as stated above.