Prospect Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prospect Tower |
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| Type | Folley |
| Location | Calstock |
| Built | 1789 |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: The Prospect Tower | |
| Designated | 19 Oct 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1311985 |
| Official name: Cotehele | |
| Designated | 11 June 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000648 |
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Prospect Tower is a really interesting building located on the amazing Cotehele Estate in Cornwall, England. It's known as a "folly," which is a special kind of building that looks like it has a purpose, but it's mostly built just for fun, decoration, or to create a beautiful view! This tower has three sides and stands about 60 feet tall, which is like a six-story building!
When the National Trust took over the Cotehele Estate in 1947, they carefully fixed up the tower. They even added a wooden spiral staircase inside, so visitors could climb up and enjoy the views. The tower was last made new again in 2018 and is still open for everyone to explore today.
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History of Prospect Tower
Prospect Tower was built a long time ago, in 1789. It was created by a very important person named Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. He was a wealthy landowner and a member of the nobility. He built the tower for a very special reason: to celebrate a royal visit!
A Royal Celebration
The tower was built to honor King George III, who was the King of Great Britain and Ireland at the time. When a king or queen visited an estate, it was a huge event! Building something grand like Prospect Tower was a way to show respect and celebrate the important royal guest. It also showed off the Earl's wealth and good taste.
What is a Folly?
You might be wondering, what exactly is a "folly"? In the past, wealthy people often built these unique structures on their large estates. They weren't built for living in, or for defense, or even for storing things. Instead, they were designed to be beautiful, to add interest to the landscape, or to be a fun place to visit. Prospect Tower is a perfect example of a folly, offering great views and a touch of historical charm.
Cotehele Estate and the National Trust
Prospect Tower is part of the much larger Cotehele Estate. This estate includes a historic house, beautiful gardens, and woodlands. It's a place where you can step back in time and imagine what life was like centuries ago.
Protecting Our Heritage
Today, the Cotehele Estate, including Prospect Tower, is looked after by the National Trust. The National Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom that works to protect and open up historic places and green spaces for everyone to enjoy. They make sure that special places like Prospect Tower are preserved for future generations to learn from and explore. They do amazing work keeping these historical treasures in great condition.
