Beckford's Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beckford's Tower |
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| Lansdown Tower | |
Beckford's Tower with part of the surrounding cemetery
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| Location | Lansdown Hill, Bath, Somerset, England |
| Height | 154 feet (47 m) |
| Built | 1827 |
| Built for | William Thomas Beckford |
| Restored | 1972 (house), 1997-2000 (tower) |
| Restored by | J. Owen Williams (house), Caroe & Partners, Mann Williams Structural Engineers (tower) |
| Architect | Henry Goodridge |
| Owner | The Beckford Tower Trust (Bath Preservation Trust) |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Beckford's Tower, with attached wall and railings | |
| Designated | 11 August 1972 |
| Reference no. | 1394133 |
| Official name: Lansdown Cemetery and Beckford's Tower | |
| Designated | 30 April 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000563 |
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Beckford's Tower, also known as Lansdown Tower, is a tall, interesting building called an architectural folly. It was built in a neo-classical style on Lansdown Hill, near Bath, England. The tower and its railings are a very important historic site, known as a Grade I listed building. The nearby Lansdown Cemetery is also a special historic place.
The tower was built for William Thomas Beckford, a very rich writer and art collector. It was designed by Henry Goodridge and finished in 1827. Beckford used the tower as a quiet place to read and keep his books. The top part, called a cupola, was like a lookout point. From there, he could see amazing views of the countryside. The building at the bottom of the tower had fancy rooms and a library. Beckford also created beautiful gardens and paths between his house and the tower, which he called Beckford's Ride.
William Beckford was a very rich man who inherited a lot of money and continued to earn more. This wealth allowed him to build amazing things and collect many beautiful artworks. Today, the museum at Beckford Tower shares more about his life.
After Beckford passed away in 1844, the tower and land were given to the local church parish. A burial ground was created, and one of the tower's rooms became a chapel. In 1931, a fire damaged the house and tower. People helped raise money to fix it. The cemetery closed in 1992. The next year, the Bath Preservation Trust bought the site. They have worked hard to restore it. Now, it's a museum showing furniture and art from Beckford's life.
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History of Beckford's Tower
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Beckford's Tower was finished in 1827. It was built for William Beckford, a wealthy person who lived in Bath. The tower was designed by a local architect named Henry Goodridge. Beckford was a famous writer, art collector, and traveler. At one point, he was said to be one of the richest people in England who wasn't a noble.
In 1822, Beckford sold his large estate, Fonthill Abbey, and much of his art. He then moved to Bath. He bought several houses in Lansdown Crescent. He even connected two of them with a special archway.
The tower was at the end of beautiful gardens called Beckford's Ride. These gardens stretched from his house all the way to the tower on top of Lansdown Hill. Beckford used the tower as a library and a quiet place to relax. He would often ride up to the tower to check on his gardens. Then he would walk back down for breakfast. From the very top of the tower, he could even see ships in the Bristol Channel with a strong telescope! Beckford once joked that he wished the tower was even taller.
Beckford moved his favorite artworks, valuable items, books, and furniture from Fonthill Abbey to his new homes in Bath and the tower. One long, narrow room in the tower was a special "oratory." It had paintings of religious scenes. A marble statue of the Virgin and Child was lit by a hidden skylight. In 1841, some items from the tower were sold. The rooms were then refurnished.
Later Owners and Restoration
William Beckford died on May 2, 1844. His younger daughter, Susan Euphemia Beckford, moved many of his books and treasures. The tower was then put up for sale but didn't sell right away. In 1847, a local pub owner bought the tower. He turned it into a beer garden.
Later, Beckford's daughter bought the tower back. In 1848, she gave the land around it to the local church parish. This land became a cemetery. This allowed Beckford's body to be moved from his first tomb. He was reburied near the tower, just as he had wanted. His tomb is a large sarcophagus made of pink granite. It has special plaques and stands on a small hill in the cemetery. It has quotes from his famous book Vathek and a poem.
The Scarlet Drawing Room in the tower was changed into a chapel in 1848. This chapel served the new cemetery. Over the years, money was given for repairs to the tower. However, by the early 1900s, the stonework was in poor condition.
In 1931, a fire badly damaged the inside of the house. This part had become the cemetery chapel. Luckily, the fire brigade stopped the fire from reaching the wooden stairs in the tower. A local church leader started an appeal to raise money for repairs. By 1954, the stairs in the tower were unsafe. Another public appeal was made for funds. In 1970, the chapel was no longer needed by the church. New owners planned to fix up the tower and create apartments. In 1972, the tower was officially named a Grade I listed building. The Beckford Tower Trust and museum were set up in 1977.
The Bath Preservation Trust
Since 1993, the Bath Preservation Trust has owned Beckford's Tower. It is managed by The Beckford Tower Trust, which is a charity. The tower was restored in 1995. It opened to the public in 2001. You can even rent the ground floor of the tower as a holiday home through the Landmark Trust.
In 2019, Historic England noted that the tower had water problems. In the same year, the Bath Preservation Trust announced plans to raise £3 million. This money would help restore the tower and its surroundings, including a grotto tunnel. It would also help more people learn about the tower. They received a large grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in December 2019. The trust was able to buy the site in 2021. In September 2022, they received another £3 million grant. This helped them reach their fundraising goal.
Tower Architecture
The tower stands about 154 feet (47 m) tall. It has three main parts. The first part is square with small windows. The second part has plain square pillars and arched openings. The very top of the tower has a golden lantern, or belvedere. This part was inspired by ancient temples. The belvedere has an eight-sided roof made of cast iron. It is held up by eight columns.
Inside, a stone spiral staircase leads up to 53 wooden stairs. These stairs take you to the cupola at the very top. From there, you can see amazing views. At the bottom of the tower, there was a furnace and pump. This system sent warm air up through the building.
Below the tower is an Italianate building. The ground floor had the Scarlet Drawing Room and an entrance hall. It also had a kitchen and offices. The first floor held the Crimson Drawing Room, a special sanctuary, and a library.
Cemetery and Gardens
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From Beckford's house to the tower, a series of connected gardens were created. These were known as Beckford's Ride. Near his house was an Italian-style garden. Then there was a forest of pine trees. Above that were a quarry garden and a dyke garden. A grotto tunnel went under a path and led into the tower garden. Special plants were chosen to attract birds like nightingales and thrushes. An old quarry was turned into a walled garden for fruits and vegetables.
Henry Goodridge also designed a Byzantine style entrance gate for the grounds. Bronze railings were added later. These railings had once been around Beckford's first tomb. The railings were removed during World War II but were put back in 2000. Stone walls, about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high, surrounded the gardens.
After Beckford's death, part of the grounds became a cemetery in 1848. It was called Lansdown Cemetery. Burial plots were set out in a grid. The cemetery was made larger in 1947 and again in 1961. Besides Beckford's tomb, many other important people from Bath are buried there. These include Henry Goodridge and the Holburne family, who started the Holburne Museum.
The cemetery closed in 1992. Since then, the local council and a trust have looked after it.
Museum at the Tower
The tower is now home to a museum. It shows furniture that was originally made for the tower. You can also see paintings, prints, and objects that tell the story of William Beckford's life. He was a writer, a collector, and someone who supported artists. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase to the restored belvedere. From there, you can enjoy amazing views of the countryside all around.
See also
- Sham Castle, another interesting building near Bath
- Browne's Folly, another tower overlooking Bath
