Freston Tower facts for kids
Freston Tower is a tall, red brick building with six floors. It's located near Ipswich in Suffolk, England, right by the River Orwell. People call it a "folly" because it was built more for looks or a special purpose than for living in like a normal house.
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The Story of Freston Tower
When Was Freston Tower Built?
Freston Tower might be one of the oldest "folly" buildings in England. No one is completely sure when it was built. Some people think it was made in the 1400s, while others believe it was in the 1500s or even the 1600s.
There's a famous story that says a man named "Lord de Freston" built the tower in the 1400s for his daughter, Ellen. The legend says Ellen used each of the six floors to study a different subject every day of the week. For example, one floor was for music, another for painting, and the top floor was for looking at the stars! However, this story comes from a novel by Reverend Richard Cobbold and is probably not true.
Records suggest the tower was likely built around 1569. It's thought that a person named Edmond Latymer built it. He might have used it as a lookout point over the River Orwell. Another idea is that it was built in 1655.
The Landmark Trust, a group that saves old buildings and owns Freston Tower now, believes it was built in 1578. They think a rich merchant from Ipswich named Thomas Gooding built it.
How Freston Tower Was Used
By the year 1730, Freston Tower was available for people to rent. It even came with furniture! Later, between 1772 and 1779, the tower was used as a place for people who had Smallpox. They would go there to get better and to prevent the illness from spreading to others.
Freston Tower Today
The tower was owned by Claire Hunt until 1999. Then, she gave it to the Landmark Trust. This charity works to save and fix up important old buildings.
Since 2004, Freston Tower has been available for people to rent as a special holiday home. It's a unique place to stay and experience a piece of history!
