The Folly Tower, Folly tower near Pontypool, Wales
The Folly Tower rises 40 feet from its hilltop location at 1,000 feet elevation, featuring an octagonal design with stone construction.
John Hanbury commissioned the tower's construction between 1765 and 1770, following the period's trend of building decorative structures without practical purposes.
The tower inspired Welsh poet Myfanwy Haycock to write verses about its presence in 1937, connecting the structure to local literary heritage.
Visitors need to walk through an active farm with livestock to reach the tower, which requires appropriate footwear and adherence to countryside protocols.
The Ministry of Defence ordered the tower's demolition in 1940 to prevent enemy aircraft from using it as a navigation point to local factories.
Location: Pontypool
Inception: 1765
GPS coordinates: 51.71680,-3.02190
Latest update: March 21, 2025 13:02
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