W a p p i n g t h o r n  T o w e r

(Best viewed in full screen F11)

 

 

Wappingthorn Tower near Steyning is indeed an extraordinary affair. It is an octagonal tower with an exterior spiral staircase, leading to a summerhouse at the summit with a pointed roof. The tower itself does not taper, but the walls of its staircase do. It literally looks like a huge stone Helter Skelter one would be keen to ride as a child at a travelling funfair.

Of all of the folly towers I have visited I have never seen anything built in such a remarkable style as this. Maxwell Ayrton designed and constructed this oddity in 1928, making it one of the more recent follies. The main body of the tower houses a water tank. It is built from concrete and finished with pebble dash. There are some 94 steps, complete with a wooden handrail, winding their way around and up the tower to the little summerhouse on top.

The pointed, octagonal copper roof is patterned and glows a bright shade of green in the sunshine from the verdi gras that now covers it. Inside, The summerhouse has a domed ceiling and a window at each side allowing the occupants a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside and woodland.

I visited the tower in the Summer of 2006. At the time the tower was inhabited. What a great and unusual place to live. I am told the tower's asking price, when it was sold to its current owner, was for a staggering price of around £250,000!

Visiting:-

Wappingthorn water tower is built on private farm land, although there is a bridal or public footpath that runs along side it, allowing great views. Please respect the privacy of the owners should you care to visit it. I parked my car in a lane by the woods north of the tower, -see map- and walked around the wood to the tower following the public footpath, itself being a lovely walk on a Summer's afternoon.

 

Co-ords 516900 113700/ TQ 169137  

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