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Yorkshire man Andrew Thomas Turton Peterson who lived the last 30 odd of his total 93 years at Sway, had two essential qualifications needed by folly builders, money and influence, and by chance turned out also to be one of the rarest of all things that are English - an eccentric judge.
He had dispensed his justice however in surroundings that were far removed from the tranquility of the New Forest. The bustling turmoil of late 19th century colonial Calcutta in India, with its attendant heat and noise were the backdrop to Peterson's legal career.
Time had now moved on though and retirement beckoned, so Sway, which is still a peaceful place today, came to be his chosen destination. What he then did there though, was to change the skyline for some considerable time.

Soaring up high over the trees, right in the heart of the forest and visible for a good distance is to be found Peterson's Folly, or Sway Tower as it is more usually known. Sway tower is not, it has to be said, elegant in comparison to a lot of other towers, but it has none the less remained one of my favourites. How this structure was ever allowed to be built in the first place is something of a mystery though, the sheer enormity of it is only truly seen from a distance as it sticks its head through the surrounding trees. Only the nearby chimney of Fawley power station catches the eye in the same way as you look over the forest from a high vantage point.

Judge Peterson decided that he would set out to prove that concrete - (unreinforced) -was a viable building material.
Whether or not it was known to him is unclear, but there were in fact two semi-detached houses with external walls of solid concrete built 17 years earlier on the nearby Isle of Wight at East Cowes. These can probably lay claim to being some of the first un-reinforced concrete buildings in the country.
Also like many folly builders he was said to have provided work for the poor and unemployed of the area, the difference with Peterson was that it seems he was genuine in his concern, whereas some others were no doubt motivated by the availability of cheap labour.
Firstly Peterson built a small concrete prototype, (Link to the relevant page) , still to be seen nestling amongst trees about 150 metres away, he then started on the main project in 1879 with a workforce of 40 men.

Sir Christopher Wren
The Judge claimed that the plans for the tower were drawn up with the assistance of Sir Christopher Wren.
Sir Christopher - who built St Paul`s - was not of course noted for his work in concrete, so some doubt must exist over this claim. Also the more astute reader will have noticed that approx 170 years have elapsed since the completion of St Paul's, and Sir Christopher's kind offer of assistance.
So how did Peterson manage this incredible feat.....

The Shakers
Judge Peterson had in fact used the services of a Mrs Girling who happened to be a spiritualist.
She was the leader of a religious community living in the area called the 'New Forest Shakers'. The roots for this group lay in the Quakers, and they were originally known as "Shaking Quakers".
They claimed to be able to contact the spirits of the dead, and during their services or seances, their enthusiasm was such, that they were often to be seen shaking, hence the name.

The Construction
The tower has a height of 218 feet with the walls at the base being two foot thick. Coupled with the fact that the tower sits on nine foot foundations, it means a terrific amount of work was put into its construction over an approximate five year period, with the cost reputed to have been £30,000, a considerable fortune at the time.
The actual construction method consisted of pouring concrete into eighteen inch high sections of wooden shuttering, while working from the inside, so cranes and scaffolding were not needed. The stone used in the concrete being borrowed from nearby Milford-on Sea beach. Judge Peterson wanted to place a light on the top originally, but Trinity House decided that it could be mistaken for a lighthouse, so that was not allowed. Plans to have clock faces installed in the four sides also met with similar resistance.
Eventually the Judge's ashes or body ( accounts vary ) were placed in the tower on his death in 1906 at the age of 93, but later removed in the 1950`s, by his family.
In all there are thirteen floors to the structure and eleven rooms, each about eighteen feet square (outside measurements), at the most it is eleven inches out of true at the top, where apparently, you have excellent views for those lucky enough to find out. That is after you have climbed nearly four hundred steps in the spiral staircase that winds its way up the side.

Present Day Use
The tower was sold in the early seventies for £2,700 to a Mr Atlas, and after being left to the elements for a while, it was not in the best of conditions when the 1987 hurricane occurred that the South of England suffered so badly from. During the storm a couple of 2cwt blocks fell down, and this was the catalyst that led to a £210,000 restoration shortly after. This was part financed by English Heritage, and the local council.
There then followed a brief period of use for the first four floors as a Bed and Breakfast, before its present use as, I believe, a private home and communication mast. In this instance unlike Horton Tower and others that have communication uses, the aerials are more obtrusive. Structures like this though need maintenance and the revenue that can be earned from use of this kind can come in useful in helping to ensure this piece of history stays standing.

Visiting:-

There is no access to the tower at all, it being located at the rear of a farmyard with tall gates and walls.
The best view is obtained from the lane down the side [ Flexford Lane ] next to the Cattery. Map:  
It is worth looking at the prototype tower that was built first of all, this can be viewed here   .

Additional Photographs
Because of the sheer height of the tower it is impossible to show the whole tower in detail in a normal photograph.

The following two pictures will open in a separate window,
Large 478 x 2029 (153K)           Medium 287 x 1217 (65K)  

....are both a composite I constructed from 4 separate photographs.

Co-Ords: 427988 096739 / SZ 279967  

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