35 FLOUNDERS FOLLY

It was built by Benjamin Flounders in 1838 probably to celebrate his 70th birthday. Benjamin Flounders built the tower known as Flounders' Folly in 1838. The original drawings for it by a Ludlow architect still survive in the North Yorkshire Record Office at Northallerton. It was built from local stone, 80ft. high and16 foot square, with two foot thick walls and small slits of windows. It originally had a castellated top around a viewing platform which had a flag pole. This was reached by a wooden staircase which went from side to side. Apparently until well into the 20 th century there was a cupboard on the top which housed a picnic box with crockery and cutlery, which could be used by those who completed the climb successfully.

This page last updated on 23/12/2007 16:56:21.