Browne’s Folly, Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire

In 1848 a brief note in local newspapers announced that a ‘lofty tower’ had been erected on Farleigh Down. Commanding the ‘most extensive and magnificent prospects’, the tower was built by Wade Browne, who had recently settled at Monkton Farleigh. The tower stands in Wiltshire – although very close to the border with Somerset.

Wade Browne (1796-1851) was living at Monkton Farleigh by 1837 when his wife, Anne, died leaving him with a young family. Browne’s memorial in the village church notes his ‘active benevolence and conscientious discharge of Christian duty’ and he is remembered for improving the village roads and water supply, and for endowing a new school. It has been suggested that building the tower might have been another philanthropic gesture to provide local employment.

The tower was completed in 1848, adding ‘a decidedly picturesque feature to the scenery of the vicinity’. Inside, a narrow stone staircase climbed up to a single room at the top from which the view could be appreciated.

When first erected the tower stood on a bare hill, and could be seen from many miles around. Today the slope is heavily wooded, and only the top of the tower can be seen from below.

Browne was well-known in the area as he was active in local affairs and served as High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1845. His prospect tower quickly became known as Browne’s Folly, and is named as such on the Ordnance Survey map published in 1889. Over the next few decades many a tall tale was told of why the tower was erected in the first place, and in the 1930s the local newspapers were filled with anecdotes about the tower. One legend had it that Browne built it so that he could keep an eye on his flirtatious wife when she was out hunting. Another told that Browne built it to hide from the ‘fairer sex, who, he imagined, were after him for his money’. As the journalist concluded, this ‘is the best story of all, and is by far the least likely to be true’.

Luckily, we have the word of Browne’s second wife, Selina, to settle the matter: she didn’t sneak off to meet a lover when hunting, and he was not escaping from the local ladies. Browne built it as a belvedere, but as Selina wrote it didn’t quite go to plan: he ‘expected to see the Bristol Channel from the room above, but I fancy hills intervening prevented it’. Perhaps the Channel was missing from the panorama, but those who climbed the tower could see the Mendips, the Wiltshire downs, the Cotswolds and into Wales. There was also a view to an earlier eye-catcher – King Alfred’s Tower at Stourhead.

An article in the journal of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society in 1855 notes that a sculptured slab, excavated from the remains of the Cluniac priory at Monkton Farleigh in 1841, was displayed in ‘Mr Wade Browne’s Tower’. This suggests that Browne perhaps used the base of the tower as a museum of antiquities. Sadly it’s a fleeting reference, and no further records of how the tower was furnished or decorated seem to survive.

Browne died in 1851 and later that century the estate was purchased by Sir Charles Hobhouse. In 1907 he restored the tower and erected a new plaque commemorating both his work, and that of Browne as the original builder (now eroded). Hobhouse is said to have used the tower for shooting lunches, but as the cynical journalist quoted earlier wrote, it must have been ‘rather trying for a tired shooting party to have to climb to such dizzy heights for a bite of refreshment’.

Monkton Farleigh remains the seat of the Hobhouse family, but the tower and surrounding land was sold to the Avon Wildlife Trust in 1972. With vandalism a huge problem, the trust approached the Folly Fellowship, the charity which aims to protect, preserve and promote follies, grottoes and garden buildings, asking if they might be able to help. In 1998 the Trustees  of the Folly Fellowship agreed to take ownership of the folly, and an appeal was launched to raise funds to repair the roof and fit a secure door, with work completed the following summer.

Patrick Todd, a trustee of the Folly Fellowship, has sent this update: The tower has recently been the subject of trespass, vandalism and damage which is a continuing problem. Signs have been put up to warn entry is not permitted and could be dangerous. Efforts are also being made to keep the tower secure, but these are likely to be temporary due to the determined efforts of the vandals. We are in touch with locals who have very kindly cleaned up graffiti, but a long term solution needs to be found which would probably involve the community, local groups, and conservation bodies. We are currently considering various options for the building, and would like to make it safe and accessible, preserving this much loved and visible monument for the future. If you would like to help in any way, please contact Patrick Todd at welbat66@gmail.com

The tower is almost impossible to photograph today (by an amateur with an iPhone) as it is surrounded by trees, so apologies for the wonky title image, and thanks to everyone who has helped with historic views.

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