Comments on: ‘Survival is Capricious’: The Bark Temple, Exton Park, Rutland

By: Editor

Editor — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 08:02:02 +0000

In reply to Gwyn Headley. Thanks Gwyn, very pleased to have a contribution from the elusive Garden Historian. I never saw the building, but it does have a decidedly spooky air from the photos. You can always rely on BJ to summarise a building so well.

By: Gwyn Headley

Gwyn Headley — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:47:53 +0000

Excellent research. I was fortunate enough to catch this in the late ‘70s when it was still (just) standing. It seems strange that it was built for frolic and fun, as a more baleful and minatory building I had yet to encounter. Plenty more since, mind you. In her notes for ‘Follies & Grottoes’ Barbara Jones concisely described it as ‘top nasty’.

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:24:24 +0000

In reply to Susan Kellerman. Thanks for commenting, it is always good to hear how follies looked and were used in different periods. Lucky gamekeeper to have such a beautiful larder.

By: Susan Kellerman

Susan Kellerman — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:00:25 +0000

I have been reminded by my erstwhile folly-visiting companion that in the 1970s Fort Henry was used by the estate gamekeeper, judging by the dead rabbits hanging inside.