The History of Hadlow Tower
Painting by Steve Crisp - a renowned local artist.
The Tower at Hadlow Castle was built of brick and rendered with Roman Cement. It stands 175 feet high, commanding the local landscape. It is 8 feet taller than Nelson’s column which was constructed contemporaneously between 1839 and 1843.
Hadlow Tower, or May’s Folly as it is affectionately known, is a Grade 1* listed folly and the tallest of its kind in the United Kingdom. It was constructed in the mid 19th Century and once formed part of a grand castle in the Romantic Gothic style, built by Walter Barton May.
Rumour has it, he built the tower to be able to spy on his estranged wife after she left him though it was more likely to show off his vast wealth!
Rumour has it, he built the tower to be able to spy on his estranged wife after she left him though it was more likely to show off his vast wealth!
The house and estate lands passed through several families during the intervening years until the estate was split up and sold in the early 20th century. In the Second World War it served as a lofty observation post for the Observer Corps and Home Guard. It was doubtless used as a landmark by Luftwaffe pilots on their way to London, who dropped bombs in nearby fields, but never hit the tower or castle.
In 1951 the main building of the castle with its ‘arches, groins, ramifications and various flowers of Gothic grandeur’ was demolished for building materials. Bernard Hailstone RP, a renowned portrait painter (of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Chirchill amongst others), purchased the Tower and the remaining courtyard buildings, preventing its demise.
1976 saw the Tower converted to a dwelling by the Danish Photographer Soren Jensen. The Tower exchanged hands again. However, it was badly damaged by the exceptional storms of 1987 and fell into disrepair. The lantern base crumbled and had to be dismantled.
1976 saw the Tower converted to a dwelling by the Danish Photographer Soren Jensen. The Tower exchanged hands again. However, it was badly damaged by the exceptional storms of 1987 and fell into disrepair. The lantern base crumbled and had to be dismantled.
In 1998 the World Monument Fund considered the building to be important enough for it to be included in the top 100 most endangered historic buildings in the world.
The Restoration of the Tower won the prestigious Angel Award
The Restoration of the Tower won the prestigious Angel Award
