Thank you Julia. He was quite a character.

This was in the Windsor and Eton Expess

This was the man who built Guy’s Folly

High Wycombe, June 2.
Death of an Eccentric
Died, at Primrose Cottage, High Wycombe, on the 24th ult., Mr.John Guy, aged 64 years. His remains were interred in a brick grave at Hughendon church-yard, on Tuesday last. On a marble tablet on his coffin is the following inscription: –
“Here , without nail or shroud doth lie,
Uncover’d by a pall – John Guy.”

On his grave-stone are the following lines:-

“To the Memory of John Guy, late of Icomb, in the county of Gloucester,
Born May 17, 1773 – Died May 24, 1837.
“In coffin made without a nail,
Without a shroud his limbs to hide;
For what can pomp or shew avail,
Or velvet pall to swell the pride;
Here lies John Guy beneath this sod,
Who lov’d his friends and fear’d his God.”
Mr.Guy was possessed of considerable property, and was a worthy and honest, though rather an eccentric man. His grave and coffin were both made about a year ago, under his own directions, and the inscriptions on the tablet and grave-stone are his own composition, and were engraved more than a month since, about which time he gave orders for everything necessary for his funeral, and purchased gloves, hatbands, &c., as he wished not to be taken to the grave in a hearse; a change of carriers was requisite, and he had therefore desired that one set might be sent to a public-house, about half way on the road, where they were to have beer &c., and to wait the arrival of his corpse, when those who had brought him from Wycombe were to receive a similar refreshment. He had also wrapped up in separate papers the sum of five shillings for each carrier. An immense number of people were assembled to view the procession as it passed through Wycombe, and also to witness the burial at Hughendon.

It’s great to add more bits to the history of Guy’s Folly. Would it be possible to share the sketch here?

Good morning Fabienne. I am delighted to hear about your research and the sketch you have discovered. It is good to add to the history of this lovely, but sadly lost, tower. Do you know what Barrow used the tower for? An observatory? Thanks for getting in touch.

Hi Michael, It was never called the round house in the family, but that is an obvious name, although our local roundhouse is an octagonal building going to a point with a small slit at the top to let in a little bit of light. Its other name is the lock up, used to put the local trouble makers away for the night.
Guy’s Folly stood high in the Cotswolds and does have good views.
Diaries are fascinating, hope you are keeping a record of your life, might not seem to exciting now but will give a good insight into everyday life in a few generations time.

Julia

Hello Michael. Thank you for adding this extra detail to the history of the tower. I’m delighted you found this post, and that you know what your Great Grandmother did with her probably limited spare time.

I am currently transcribing the diaries of my Great Grandmother Mary Ann Wesley duing the time she was a Lady’s Maid between November 1886 and March 1893.
It was her entry for 20th March 1892 that prompted me to search the web. She was Lady’s Maid then to Mrs Byass of Wyck Hill House. The entry was :-
‘Went to Church in the morning. After dinner Cissie, Alice, Harriet and I went up to Icomb Round House. Had a lovely view all round.’
Thank you for the description and history. It is great to add interest to what is mostly a mundane account of life ‘in service’.
Michael P J Smith

Thanks for sending the photo, Mel. I’ve added it to the post.