Racton Monument, Grade II listed folly in Stoughton, England
Racton Monument is a red brick structure with a triangular base and round towers at each corner, topped by a tall central tower roughly 24 meters high. The building sits on private land and internal access is restricted due to its deteriorating condition.
Lord Halifax commissioned this red brick tower between 1766 and 1775, with architect Theodosius Keene directing its design. The monument was built during a period when such structures enhanced the visual presence of grand estates.
The structure reflects how wealthy landowners in the 1700s built decorative towers to display their position and taste. Walking around it, you see a remnant of the era when private estates featured such ornamental buildings as status symbols.
The monument sits on private property and you will need permission from the owner to visit. Since the interior is unsafe to enter due to deterioration, plan to view it from the outside only.
Local records suggest the tower once served as a lookout point for merchant ships entering Emsworth port through Chichester Harbour. This practical purpose lay hidden beneath its role as a purely decorative structure.
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