Comments on: Follies Can Be Fun

By: Editor

Editor — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 13:37:34 +0000

In reply to Gwyn Headley. Good afternoon Pilot Officer Nerd. Thank you for the update. I had skimmed over the identity of the plane, as unqualified to comment. So I am very grateful to you and Flying Officer Godfrey for your help. Over and out!

By: Gwyn Headley

Gwyn Headley — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 13:31:17 +0000

Pilot Officer Nerd reporting:
“On 10th July 1944 a Noorduyn Norseman UC-64a 43-5344 assigned to 320th Air Transport Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group, USAAF, was tasked to transport a Lockheed Hudson V wheel and tyre required to repair an aircraft of this type at Prestwick. On approaching the the Somerset/Wiltshire border in thick fog, the pilot requested permission to land at Zeals. Flying Control refused permission because of the bad weather conditions [thereby condemning the crew to death – Ed] and shortly after the aircraft struck the pinnacle of Alfred’s Tower positioned on the hill just north of the airfield. It crashed on Hillcombe Farm, South Brewham killing the pilot 1st Lt Wilfred Malone, Master Sgt Lloyd F Cheek and Cpl Henry Mazzie. The two NCOs were to instal the replacement wheel on arrival at Prestwick.”
Info from Wings Over Wiltshire.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 18:32:31 +0000

In reply to Susan Kellerman. Hello Susan. You make a very interesting point which hadn’t occurred to me. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

By: Susan Kellerman

Susan Kellerman — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 18:15:24 +0000

In reply to John Holland. Re the comments about follies being a waste of building materials: in the late 1940s and early 1950s there was still a shortage of building materials (I believe) as a result of the war, and this might have influenced attitudes to 'absurd erections'. Not sufficient reason to dismiss the pleasure given by such structures, and certainly not a reason to encourage demolition.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 16:14:41 +0000

In reply to Jim Godfrey. Hello Jim. Thanks for this fascinating detail, it's not a subject I know anything about. Thanks also for the kind words.

By: Jim Godfrey

Jim Godfrey — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 15:47:54 +0000

re Mosquito it should not have been to hard to identify in that its main structure was wood, by that time quite unusual. It was known as the wooden wonder. It was also a small plane with two engines, also unusual. Thanks for all the genuine entertainment so sorely needed these days.
Jim

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 11:47:52 +0000

In reply to Charles Cowling. Hello Charles and thank you for taking the time to get in touch. Very difficult to categorise the Bishop's tower, but I agree with you that "Victorian factory' suits it rather well. It made me think of the 'campanile' chimneys in Holbeck, Leeds.

By: Charles Cowling

Charles Cowling — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 11:37:20 +0000

Jolly good piece, as ever, FF. Towering follies, all. I especially enjoyed the term ‘Victorian factory’ to describe Bishop C’s eclectic architectural taste. ‘Campanile-ish’ might have served as well. In Leeds the old workhouse chapel was described as ‘Byzantian’, which offers an equally serviceable umbrella.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 08:38:52 +0000

In reply to John Holland. Good morning John and thanks for the kind comments. I really enjoyed revisiting all the sites the author of the article had visited. Follies definitely are fun!

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 08:33:45 +0000

In reply to Ralph.

Hello Ralph and thanks for taking the time to comment. Thanks also for sharing the story of the follies in the Netherlands – I’m pleased they survived. I’m just reading a book set in 1950 that calls follies ‘absurd erections’ and I will be writing more about that in due course.