The Folly Tower

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The Folly Tower is a folly at Pontypool, Torfaen, South Wales (Grid ref: SO 29525 02495). It is a prominent local landmark above the A4042 Newport to Abergavenny road.

Built around 1765 to 1770 by John Hanbury, a local landowner and local iron master who owned Pontypool Park, the original tower had neither roof nor floor. It was rebuilt and restored around 1831 by Capel Hanbury Leigh. In 1935 nearly 20,000 people gathered at the Folly Tower to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V with a bonfire.

The tower was beginning to fall in a state of disrepair during the late 1930s though.

On the 9th July 1940, the Ministry of Defence ordered that, as a security measure under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939, the Folly be demolished. This was in the mistaken belief that its presence would be a landmark for the Lufwaffe seeking to raid the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory at Glascoed to the east.

After the war in 1946 and again in 1948 campaigns started to collect funds and donations to rebuild the Folly Tower, but were unsuccessful, due mainly it is thought on a priority with house building in the local area. During 1990, a number of local historians and conservationists decided it was time to restore the Folly Tower to its former glory and a committee was set up to canvas various funding bodies as well as open negotiations with the National Park Authority. The creation of the Campaign for the Reconstruction of the Folly Tower (CROFT) then achieved sufficient backing that the required £60,000 was raised to rebuild the Folly Tower.

It was officially reopened by HRH the Prince of Wales on the 22nd July 1994. From the top it is said that, on clear days, seven Welsh and English counties can be seen (three Welsh - Torfean (formerly Gwent), Monmouthshire and South Glamorgan; and four English - Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Even on unclear days, the recovery to verdant wood and grass-land from former local industrial despoilation is striking.

Access

The tower is well signposted from Pontypool. Folly Lane leads to a small car park from which the tower can be seen and is a shoer walk away. Access is via an open field of a local farm and dogs must be kept under control at all times.

Opening times

Free admission to The Folly Tower for the general public every Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays between May to September 1400 to 1700.

Nearby - The Shell Grotto.

Contact: Pontypool Park Manager Telephone: 01495 764688