Broadway Tower, Gothic Revival folly tower in Broadway, England
Broadway Tower is a hexagonal structure about 65 feet (20 meters) high on Broadway Hill, with three round corner turrets, battlements, and gargoyles. Inside, three museum floors and a viewing platform at the top offer sweeping views over the surrounding countryside.
Architect James Wyatt designed the building in 1794 for the 6th Earl of Coventry as part of a landscaping project on a hilltop used for centuries as a beacon site. Construction was completed between 1798 and 1799.
During the 19th century, Sir Thomas Phillipps used the building as a printing press for his vast collection of historical manuscripts. Later, artists William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones met here regularly, inspired by the view across the Cotswolds.
Walking paths lead up to the site from Broadway village, and parking is available along the nearby A44 at Fish Hill. Visiting includes climbing through the exhibition floors to the open platform, where wind can be strong.
A restored Royal Observer Corps nuclear bunker from the Cold War period lies nearby and can be visited. The bunker was used until 1991 to monitor nuclear threats and now displays original equipment from that era.
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