Browne's Folly

Browne's Folly is a square stone tower located on Farleigh Rise, a Grade II listed building with distinctive round-arched openings on its upper level. An internal spiral staircase climbs to the top, providing access to views across the surrounding landscape.

Colonel Wade Browne built this tower in 1845 as a work-creation project during an agricultural crisis affecting the region. It replaced an earlier semaphore tower that had occupied the same location.

The tower has become a recognized landmark for the local community and appears in official symbols of the parish. It represents the architectural heritage that residents take pride in maintaining and sharing with visitors.

Visitors can climb the tower, though the internal spiral staircase has no handrails so caution is needed on the steps. The Folly Fellowship has maintained the structure since 1998 and continues to welcome people to explore it.

The tower sits within a protected natural area that hosts nine orchid species and serves as habitat for Greater Horseshoe Bats. This combination of historical architecture and rare wildlife makes the location ecologically significant beyond its built heritage.

Location: Monkton Farleigh

GPS coordinates: 51.39322,-2.29635

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55