Comments for The Folly Flaneuse

Comment on The Peel Tower, Braunton, Devon by Editor

Editor — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:19:37 +0000

In reply to TOM GARDNER. Hello Tom. It is sad that there seem to have been plans to care for the tower which then fell through. It has such a fascinating history.

Comment on The Peel Tower, Braunton, Devon by TOM GARDNER

TOM GARDNER — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:45:17 +0000

TOM (USA)
ONCE AGAIN, VIA YOUR ENDEAVORS, WITH THE AID OF FELLOW ‘HUNTERS’, THE PAST HISTORY OF YOUR BELOVED COUNTRYSIDE … COMES ALIVE.
IN TODAY’S WORLD, IT’S PERHAPS A SAD COMMENTARY, THAT WE (HUMANS), STILL FIND IT NECESSARY TO NOT RESPECT OUR PAST, AND WORSE YET ….
NOT LEARN FROM … PAST ERRORS.
BUT THEN AGAIN … ‘HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!’
CHEERS,
TOM

Comment on The Peel Tower, Braunton, Devon by Editor

Editor — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:12:14 +0000

In reply to Sally. Hello Sally. I do like your idea of ‘celebrating’ our least favourite politicians in the smallest room. As you say, we are spoilt for choice.

Comment on The Peel Tower, Braunton, Devon by Sally

Sally — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:19:44 +0000

Poor Thomas Mortimer – he sounds a very worthy man who led an intense & rather sad life.
Perhaps we should revive the practice of “commemorating “ loathed politicians in a designated wc in our houses (if a spare one is available)? The conundrum would be who to choose from so many ….

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by Editor

Editor — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:16:12 +0000

In reply to Christine Upton. Thank you Christine for your kind words. I very much appreciate you taking the time to get in touch.

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by Christine Upton

Christine Upton — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:38:23 +0000

I’m a mostly silent reader of your many interesting posts. Just wanted to say thank you for them all, including this one with a pleasingly happy ending.

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by Editor

Editor — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:34:19 +0000

In reply to Iain KS Gray. Hello Iain. Thank you for sharing these memories. It’s a delight to hear from people who have followed the restoration from the earliest days.

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by Iain KS Gray

Iain KS Gray — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:39:26 +0000

We visited Painshill in 1980, not quite as trespassers, and worked our way through dense undergrowth till the Gothic temple was in front of us shrouded in tarpaulin and wooden scaffolding. To its right we could see the ruins of the grotto which had been used for target practice by soldiers during the war. Our visit was prompted by an article in the Sunday papers. Some years later we picnicked by the grotto with Diana Reynell while she was doing the restoration. We’ve been back a good many times as the wider restoration of the follies took place but we still remember that magical first day.

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by Editor

Editor — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:20:20 +0000

In reply to David Winpenny. Good morning David. No doubt Walpole was correct, and the Goths did not build garden ornaments, but I’m very pleased that Hamilton did as I’m an admirer of this structure.

Comment on The Gothic Temple, Painshill, Surrey by David Winpenny

David Winpenny — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:50:18 +0000

The Gothic Temple always puts me in mind of Horace Walpole’s comment: ‘In all Gothic designs, they should be made something that was of that time, a part of a church, a castle, a convent or a mansion. The Goths never built summer houses.’ You can see what he means.