Folly Tower, Pontypool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Folly Tower |
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Welsh: Tŵr Ffoledd
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The Folly Tower, Pontypool
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete – demolished, but rebuilt |
| Type | Folly |
| Architectural style | Stone tower with crenelated top |
| Location | Pontypool Park, Torfaen, South Wales |
| Town or city | Pontypool |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | Grid ref: SO 2954902550 |
| Elevation | 1,000 ft (305 m) above sea level |
| Completed | 1765 to 1770 |
| Renovated | 1831 & 1994 |
| Demolished | 9 July 1940 |
| Client | John Hanbury |
| Owner | Torfaen County Borough Council |
| Height | 40 ft (12 m) |
The Folly Tower (which is Tŵr Ffoledd in Welsh) is a special building called a folly. A folly is a building built mostly for decoration, not for a real purpose like living in. This tower is located near Pontypool Park in Torfaen, South Wales.
It's a famous landmark that stands out in the area. The tower is shaped like an octagon, meaning it has eight sides. It's about 40 feet (12 meters) tall and sits high up, about 1000 feet (300 meters) above sea level. From the tower, you can see amazing views of Pontypool to the west and the countryside of Monmouthshire to the east.
Contents
History of the Folly Tower
Building the Original Tower
We don't know the exact date the Folly Tower was built. However, most people believe it was constructed between 1765 and 1770. It was built by John Hanbury, who was a wealthy local landowner and iron factory owner. He also owned Pontypool Park.
The tower was built as an "observatory," a place where people could go to look out over the beautiful local area. It quickly became a popular spot. In 1865, a local newspaper called it "The Folly," a name that has stuck ever since.
Around 1831, the tower was likely updated by Capel Hanbury Leigh. We know this because a special stone above the doorway has "1831" carved into it.
A Place for Celebrations
The Folly Tower was a well-known feature in the area. In May 1935, a huge crowd of about 15,000 to 20,000 people gathered there. They lit a big bonfire to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V. A Silver Jubilee celebrates 25 years of a king or queen's rule.
However, because the tower was always open to the weather, it started to get old and damaged in the late 1930s. Signs were put up to warn visitors about falling stones. Even so, local people still loved the tower. A local poet named Myfanwy Haycock wrote a poem about it in 1937:
- Here where the hill holds heaven in her hands,
- High above Monmouthshire the grey tower stands,
- He is weather-worn and scarred, and very wise,
- For rainbows, clouds and stars shine through his eyes.
Why the Tower Was Demolished
On July 9, 1940, the Folly Tower was ordered to be taken down. This happened during World War II. The War Office (the government department in charge of the army) believed the tower could be a landmark for enemy planes. They worried that German planes (the Luftwaffe) might use it to find a nearby factory that made weapons. To keep the factory safe, the tower had to go.
Rebuilding the Folly Tower
Early Attempts to Rebuild
After the war, people wanted to rebuild the Folly Tower. In 1946, a group from Pontypool tried to start a project, but it didn't work out. In 1948, another campaign began to collect money from the public. However, the local council decided not to give money. Their main focus at the time was building new homes for people after the war.
Successful Reconstruction Efforts
In 1990, local historians and people who cared about old buildings decided it was time to rebuild the Folly Tower. They formed a group called the Campaign for the Reconstruction of the Folly Tower (CROFT). This group worked hard to get money from different organizations.
They managed to raise £60,000, which was enough to rebuild the tower! Some of the money came from The Prince of Wales' Committee and a fund called the European Regional Development Fund.
In April 1990, workers dug up the original base of the tower. This helped them figure out the exact size of the old tower. In October of that year, they received permission to rebuild from the Brecon Beacons National Park authorities.
In May 1991, the Torfaen County Borough Council donated 175 tonnes of stone. This stone came from a school that had recently been taken down. Rebuilding started in November 1992. Work stopped during the cold winter months and started again in the spring. By July 1994, the tower was finished, both inside and out.
The Reopening of the Tower
The Folly Tower was officially reopened on July 22, 1994, by the Prince of Wales (who is now King Charles III). A special plaque on the tower remembers this day. It says that the rebuilding project was paid for by several groups, including the European Regional Development Fund and The Prince of Wales' Committee.
Visiting the Folly Tower
To get to the Folly Tower, you need to walk through a field that is part of a working farm. Sometimes, there are farm animals in this field and on the land around the car park. In 2010, a barrier was put up to stop campers and other visitors from staying too long in the area.
See also
In Spanish: Torre Capricho para niños
