The Folly Tower, Folly tower near Pontypool, Wales
The Folly Tower is an octagonal stone tower built on a hilltop in Pontypool, Wales. It stands on open elevated ground with countryside on all sides and no surrounding buildings.
John Hanbury had the tower built between 1765 and 1770 as a purely decorative structure with no practical function. This was part of a broader European fashion for adding ornamental buildings to country estates.
The tower carries the name Folly Tower, a term used in English for decorative buildings that serve no practical purpose. Today it draws walkers who climb the hill simply to enjoy the view from the top.
The path to the tower passes through a working farm with grazing livestock, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. Visitors should stay on marked paths and be mindful of animals along the way.
In 1940 the Ministry of Defence ordered the tower to be demolished so enemy aircraft could not use it as a navigation point for nearby factories. The order was never carried out, and the structure survived the war untouched.
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