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Latitude: 51.1148 / 51°6'53"N
Longitude: -2.365 / 2°21'54"W
OS Eastings: 374546
OS Northings: 135125
OS Grid: ST745351
Mapcode National: GBR 0TS.2WM
Mapcode Global: VH97Y.Y7LP
Plus Code: 9C3V4J7M+WX
Entry Name: Alfred's Tower
Listing Date: 24 March 1961
Grade: I
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1175610
English Heritage Legacy ID: 261509
Also known as: The Folly of King Alfred the Great
Stourton Tower
ID on this website: 101175610
Location: Somerset, BA10
County: Somerset
District: South Somerset
Civil Parish: Brewham
Traditional County: Somerset
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Somerset
Tagged with: Observation tower Folly tower Fortress Palladian architecture
ST73NW BREWHAM CP KINGSETTLE HILL (South side)
2/4 Alfred's Tower
24.3.61
I
Commemorative tower/folly. 1766. Flemish bond brickwork with red stretchers and grey headers; Chilmark stone dressings.
Triangular on plan with circular turrets to each corner, sides about 13 metres long; tower in 4 stages totalling some
40 metres high. Stepped stone plinth, string courses, cornice and battlemented parapets: South West turret a taller
stair turret with small lancet windows, 2 to outer and 3 to middle stages; corbelled balcony without railing, to small
circular chamber having open slit windows. North East face has a plain surround pointed arch to doorway, with plinth
and impost blocks, framing C20 metal doors; above a trefoil arch headed panel with inscription reading: ALFRED THE
GREAT/AD 879 on this Summit/Erected his Standard/Against Danish Invaders/To him we owe the origin of (juries)/The
Establishment of (a militia)/The Creation of a Naval Force/ALFRED The Lion of a (benighted) Age/Was a Philosopher and a
Christian/The Father of his People/The Founder of the English/MONARCHY and LIBERTY. Above this a corbelled plinth at
first string course level, the base to a segmental niche with triple column pilasters, and canopied, with poppy head
finials; in the recess a more than life size statue of King Alfred in semi-armour, the right forearm currently missing
(September 1983). The tower built by Henry Hoare (the Younger) of Stourhead, Wiltshire, as one of the many features on
that estate.
Listing NGR: ST7454635125
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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