Brown's Folly (tower) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brown's Folly
The Folly was once a prominent feature of the area, but has become obscured by the surrounding woodland
Location	Bathford
Height	Approx. 12 metres (39 ft)
Built	1845

Brown's Folly is a tall, interesting tower near the village of Bathford in Somerset, England. It's known as a "folly tower" because it was built mainly for looks or fun, not for a practical purpose like living in. This tower is a very important historic building. The area around it, also called Brown's Folly, is a special nature reserve where plants and animals are protected.

Why Was Brown's Folly Built?

The tower was built in 1845 by Colonel Wade Browne. He owned a large estate nearby. At that time, many people in the countryside needed work. Colonel Browne built the tower to give them jobs.

Before this tower, an older "semaphore" tower stood on the same spot. A semaphore tower was used to send messages over long distances using flags or movable arms.

In 1907, the tower was fixed up by the new owner, Charles Hobhouse. He used the tower as a meeting point for his hunting parties. There was talk of tearing down the tower in 1938, but luckily, it was saved.

Today, a picture of Brown's Folly is even on the unofficial symbol of the Bathford Parish Council.

What Brown's Folly Looks Like

The tower is made from rough stone blocks. It has a square shape at the bottom and gets narrower as it goes up. Inside, there's a spiral staircase. However, parts of the staircase are broken, and there are no handrails, so it's not safe to climb.

Near the top, there are round-shaped openings. The railings that should be around the top are also missing. Even though it's not safe to climb inside, the tower itself is strong and stable. It is open for people to visit and look at from the outside.

Since 1998, a group called the Folly Fellowship has taken care of the tower. They even replaced the roof to help keep it in good shape.