Folly

Folly Flâneuse Festivities

In August 2018 the Folly Flâneuse took her first tentative steps into the world of blogging. Six years later, this is the 300th post to appear. To celebrate here are some favourite follies from all four corners of the British Isles.

A trip to the northern tip of Scotland for Hogmanay led to a popular early post featuring the most northerly folly in mainland Britain, Harold’s Tower, which the Flâneuse visited on New Year’s Eve in 2018. 

Harold’s Tower, Thurso, Caithness. https://thefollyflaneuse.com/harolds-tower-thurso-caithness-scotland/

One of the most southerly follies to appear is the Storm Tower in Bude, Cornwall, which featured in February 2022. The tower was at that date about to be taken down and moved inland because of coastal erosion (work is now complete). This led to the Flâneuse’s history of the tower being quoted in newspaper articles about climate change, and a polite explanation that this was not her area of expertise when an interview was requested.

The Storm Tower, Bude, before it was rebuilt further inland. https://thefollyflaneuse.com/the-storm-tower-bude-cornwall/

Sadly not all of the follies featured in the last six years are extant, but the Flâneuse hopes to keep their memories alive by recording their histories. Randall’s Folly once stood at Salthouse on the Norfolk coast, and the Flâneuse visited its site in 2021. Its rather doleful expression in this old image suggests it knew its days were numbered.

Randall’s Folly at Salthouse https://thefollyflaneuse.com/randalls-folly-salthouse-norfolk/

And heading west brings us to Ireland, where the Flâneuse recently spent a very happy ten days of follying. Pictured top is the tower on the Ballyfin demesne in Co. Laois and below is the tower at Belvedere, Co. Westmeath.

By far the most uplifting aspect of writing about follies, apart from the joy of the buildings themselves, is all the new friends met along the way, whether this be via exchanges of emails, or chats over a glass of wine, or encounters at a garden festival.

The Temple of Friendship at Stowe – unlike Lord Cobham the Flâneuse is sadly not in a position to build such a monument to friends old and new.

The Flâneuse is also of course hugely grateful for the support of the many old friends who have helped along the way, and especial thanks to the Uncouth Companion, the very best folly factotum.

Thank you for your kind comments over the years, and for your suggestions for future jaunts (please keep them coming). Above all thanks for taking the time to read these weekly ramblings and making it all feel worthwhile.

Cheers! Visiting Carton House in Ireland the Flâneuse was ridiculously excited to find that the folly tower in the grounds was pictured on the wine glasses.

 

The Needle’s Eye, Wentworth Woodhouse. Subscribe and discover many other fascinating follies.

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57 thoughts on “Folly Flâneuse Festivities”

  1. Eric Kellerman says:

    Congratulations on your six years of informative and witty blogging. I always look forward to your Saturday mails, and have been rewarded with some wonderful tales of follies, some old favourites, but many previously unknown. Any chance of a book? I do hope so!

    Many thanks for your scholarship, humour and endeavour.
    Cheers, Eric

    1. Editor says:

      Good afternoon Eric and very many thanks for your kind words. I do enjoy finding new or lesser known follies, but it also fun to revisit the old favourites as there is (almost) always something new to discover. I’m not sure where I will find time for a book, but you never know… Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      1. David phelan says:

        Hello. I found you by accident I was looking up my property. Follybank house. Grange over sands Cumbria. EX bank. Looks like a folly. But now a house. Loving the April fool bank note. Which is quite appropriate for my building. Feel free to look it up. . It’s a listed grade 2. So easy to find

        1. Editor says:

          Good morning David. I’m pretty sure I have admired your house when in Grange. I will be sure to look out for it on my next visit. I hope you enjoy living in such a lovely location.

  2. James says:

    Congratulations on your Milestone. I’ve really enjoyed reading your informative musings every week, often filling gaps in my knowledge. Please, keep them coming!

    1. Maisie says:

      Congratulations. The arrival of the weekly folly always cheers me up. The first folly I remember being aware of was Leith Hill tower in Surrey. I was standing on top of it peering at the horizon because my dad said you were supposed to be able to see the sea. He then told me that it’s only purpose was to improve the view and so it was called a folly. While I was thinking about this he casually mentioned that Squire Richard Hull, who built it, loved it so much that he had himself buried underneath it. I was slightly unnerved to discover that I was standing on top of a dead person but also fascinated by the logistics of how they got him under there. It never occurred to me that they simply dug a hole in the floor. I was only eleven and I assumed they tunnelled underneath from one side.

      1. Editor says:

        Hello Maisie. It is always a pleasure to hear how readers were first introduced to follies, and I am delighted that you enjoy the posts and have retained an interest in the subject. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

    2. Editor says:

      Hello James. I very much hope to ‘keep them coming’ for the foreseeable future. Thanks for getting in touch.

  3. Margie Hoffnung says:

    Bravo – I always look forward to Saturday mornings when I read your post before I get up!

    1. Editor says:

      Thanks Margie! Great to hear from you.

  4. Ian Round says:

    Thank you,
    I have enjoyed your post since I came to them around a year ago. My first experiance of the term Folly was when as a child the term was used to describe Riber Castle which dominates views and overlooks Matlock in Derbyshire When I asked what a folly was I was told it described a building built on the whim of a weathly person “because they thought the vista required it”. In my view Matlock Bath it’s self is a folly being a land locked seaside resort and close by another referance to our island and it’s coast is the lighthouse Crich Stand A war memorial shining a light to remember the lives of those lost in conflict.
    Kind regards Ian

    1. Editor says:

      Good afternoon Ian. Thanks for sharing your memory of being introduced to follies. I haven’t been to Crich for many years so you have prompted me to plan a visit. Many thanks.

  5. The Decorative Friend says:

    I really believe you have created something wonderful with this blog and it will be cited by many people for a very long time.

    1. Gwyn Headley says:

      Congratulations Madame la Flâneuse. You have made an utterly invaluable contribution to Folly scholarship. I am full of admiration, and I’ve learned a lot from you. Thank you. Here’s to the next 300!

      1. Editor says:

        Good afternoon Gwyn. Well as the Flâneuse would not exist without your* vade mecum (I’m onto my third copy after the others fell apart after over-use) then I should be thanking you. Thanks for your friendship and support.
        *and Wim of course

    2. Editor says:

      Thank you my Decorative Friend. Keep your eyes peeled for follies in/on artworks.

    3. Chris Beevers says:

      Congratulations on your milestone blog, your brilliant research and engaging and fascinating weekly posts.

      Looking forward to the next 300…..

      Many thanks

      1. Editor says:

        Thank you Chris. I have found a new story to investigate this morning so there are more posts to come. Not sure about 300 but I will do my best!

  6. David Turner Rhodes says:

    Congratulations to YOU and yours for making my Saturday mornings so invigorating.
    Here’s to the next 300.
    Thank you

    1. Editor says:

      Hello David. Many thanks and I am already hard at work on the next 300!

  7. Jane Padfield says:

    Congratulations on this auspicious achievement! Your posts have been eagerly welcomed on Saturday mornings since l discovered them during the pandemic. Many thanks for sharing your delight and knowledge, and for all the research work you do. Here’s to the next 300! 🥂

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Jane. Whilst there are folly stories to tell and I have the energy the posts will continue!

  8. Colin says:

    Thank you for your weekly Saturday posts. They are always a delight; informative, witty, entertaining and inspiring. And thanks for all the scholarship and hard work that undoubtedly goes into them. The Folly Flaneuse is a National Treasure!

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Colin. I don’t think I can compete with Dame Judi Dench & co, but I am flattered by your description! Very many thanks.

      1. Gand says:

        Bravo Flaneuse. Here’s to the next 300.
        Sharing my Saturday morning reading fabulous stories about the fascinating folk behind the fantastic follies we all love is a ritual I am more than happy to facilitate.
        Here’s to the uncouth companion too.

        1. Editor says:

          Thank you Gand for your support from the very start.

  9. David Lermon says:

    Terrific- well done. I came to your wonderful blog quite recently but (as someone has just written) you make Saturdays something to look forward to. Thank you for your selfless ramblings, in both senses of the word.

    1. Editor says:

      Hello David. Thank you and welcome. I hope you continue to enjoy my weekly folly stories.

  10. Nic Orchard says:

    I wish I had found your wonderful blogs when I was plotting my forays in 2019 & 2020. You do what I’d like to: unearth unknown details, record & comment so well.

    The proposed move of the Tower of the Winds at Bude didn’t feature in my searches so I suppose it had not been not mooted publicly then, but I am so grateful to read this ‘new’ history of it.

    You reminded me too, of the one I really wish I could have seen, as it is, in my opinion, the consummate folly: the obelisk commemorating William Berners at Woolverstone Hall. I want it.

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Nic. Writing this blog has introduced me to so many interesting people and your solo folly flights across Britain have fascinated me and I am full of admiration. The loss of the Woolverstone obelisk is very sad but I was pleased to be able to write about its history and the fragments that remain.

  11. Nic Orchard says:

    Just adding for clarity on Woolverstone, now I know about it, I am disproportionately saddened to have lost it. I want one.

  12. Edward Mirzoeff says:

    Saturday mornings are a highpoint of the week with your beautifully written, immaculately researched and exquisitely illustrated pieces. Thank you for these pleasures. Long may they continue!

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Edward. I am flattered to receive such praise from someone whose work I admire so much. Thank you.

  13. Catherine Thompson-McCausland says:

    Thank you, Karen, for cheering Saturdays with your fascinating Follies. Please keep them coming.
    Very best wishes
    Catherine

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Catherine. Thanks as ever for your kind words and I will endeavour to keep offering my Saturday morning ramblings.

  14. archaeogail says:

    Happy 300th post Karen & huge congratulations! 🥳 You have the most amazing talent for finding information in obscure places & piecing together the fascinating histories of these fabulous follies… & then sharing it all with us through your wonderful & engaging blogs. Long may you continue! 🏛😍

    1. Editor says:

      Thanks Gail. I really appreciate your kind comments and thank you for all the time and effort you devote to helping me whenever you can.

      1. archaeogail says:

        It’s always my absolute pleasure & most favourite thing to do! 🏛🧐

  15. Garance says:

    Congratulations! An extraordinary achievement. I trust you and your (so called) uncouth companion are able to continue journeying around and about in order to educate, entertain and inform us.

    1. Editor says:

      That’s the plan Garance! Thanks for your support.

  16. TOM GARDNER says:

    THANK U … THANK U … THANK U! 20 JUL 24
    AS YOUR: ‘ACROSS THE POND’ – COUSIN (BEING AN IRISH, SCOT – MIX), COMING FROM A TIME PERSPECTIVE OF BEING ONLY 250 – YEARS ‘UNITED’; YOUR EFFORTS ARE MOST WELCOME, ENRICHING AND ENLIGHTENING.
    MY DAY IS SO ENHANCED UPON VIEWING YOUR LISTING ON MY … ‘INBOX’

    MANY THANKS

    TOM GARDNER

    1. Editor says:

      You are very kind Tom. I’m so pleased my stories are appreciated so many miles away. Thank you.

  17. Adrian Fisher MBE says:

    Congratulations on your magnificent postings. I created the first folly in my own garden in 2013, at the centre of our hedge maze, and a second one in 2023. I look forward to welcoming you here in Dorset.
    I also include follies in my new maze projects, thus bringing follies within reach of many more people around the world.

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Adrian. Dorset is top of the list for a folly jaunt in 2025 and I look forward to seeing your work then.

  18. Fiona Barnes says:

    Karen, i look forward to your posts every weekend and enjoy them enormously , we need more follies building so your posts can go on! Many thanks, best wishes and happy jaunting

    1. Editor says:

      Good morning Fiona. I really appreciate the kind words and thank you for reading my weekly stories.

  19. Lisababes says:

    Congratulations my lovely friend on your success. I’m very proud of you and your excellent posts.
    A book would be great to add to your collection of works although I don’t know when you would find the time and I don’t want to drag you away from our coffee meet ups ☕️🍷xx

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Lisa. Fear not – there will always be time for friends, especially if coffee and/or wine is on offer!

  20. Simon Scott says:

    A fabulous treasure trove of folly information is to be found within your blogs. To write 300 is a massive achievement – but it is the background research you do that so impresses me. You even found a new reference to Boughton Park that I had not previously seen. Sincere congratulations and long may you continue to enlighten our Saturday mornings.
    PS Like the idea of a book – if you ever need help putting such a tome together, please do reach out…

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Simon. I love the research and I am quite dogged in trying to find answers, so I do appreciate your comments. Maybe there will be a book one day, but I do enjoy the connection with readers that blogging allows. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      1. Valerie Greaves says:

        When I regularly visited Darwen Tower as a child I did not know what a folly was, it was just The Tower. Thank you for shining a light on it and on so many other architectural delights.

        1. Editor says:

          Hello Valerie. My own passion for follies began as a child and it doesn’t seem to have lessened! Thank you for reading and for showing your appreciation.

  21. Gary Barrett says:

    Hi. What more could be added now other than to thank you for all of your excellent research and fantastic writing? I am hapy to be one of many looking forward to their Saturday edition of Folly Knowledge.

    1. Editor says:

      Thank you Gary. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

  22. Wim Meulenkamp says:

    Being on holiday I missed your recent posts, but am catching up. Congrats on your splendidly written and as others already remarked well-researched blog! May it continue fot many moons….!

    1. Editor says:

      Hello Wim. Well, as I have already said to Gwyn, the Flâneuse would be nowhere without your book. Thank you for paving the way, and thanks for your kind comments.

      1. David phelan says:

        Found the bank of folly banknote interesting as I own an old bank. Renamed as FOLLYBANK HOUSE. Grange over sands. So it fits nicely. Suggest you look it up. As it’s grade 2 listed

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