filmknight
Member
Once again this was something I found from my travels at work. Driving along the A31 between Sturminster Marshall and Bere Regis in Dorset I had noticed a tower poking up above some trees. After an internet search I found out about the tower and the house it belonged to. I was very pleased that even though the house is private, on occasion the owner opens up it's gardens to generate money for local charities. I find follies fascinating and was particularly drawn to this one. One of the reasons being the comical gargoyles decorating the tower.
Charborough house dates back to 1086 when it was a royal manor to King Harold.
The house was destroyed by royalist troops in the 16th century in retaliation to the assault on Corfe Castle. Only the foundations and cellars remained. It was rebuilt by Sir Walter Erle, commander of the Parliamentary forces which besieged Corfe Castle in 1646, (stone and timber taken from Corfe Castle were used in the building).
The house and grounds are surrounded by one of the longest walls in england built from more than 2 million bricks.
Charborough tower was built around 1790 is over 100ft high and has 161 steps.
The current occupier is Richard Drax, the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Dorset.
The path leading from the house to the tower
Charborough house dates back to 1086 when it was a royal manor to King Harold.
The house was destroyed by royalist troops in the 16th century in retaliation to the assault on Corfe Castle. Only the foundations and cellars remained. It was rebuilt by Sir Walter Erle, commander of the Parliamentary forces which besieged Corfe Castle in 1646, (stone and timber taken from Corfe Castle were used in the building).
The house and grounds are surrounded by one of the longest walls in england built from more than 2 million bricks.
Charborough tower was built around 1790 is over 100ft high and has 161 steps.
The current occupier is Richard Drax, the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Dorset.
The path leading from the house to the tower