This 18th century Grade II* Gothic Folly was constructed in the grounds of Wimpole Hall in the mid-18th century. The condition of the Folly had progressively deteriorated over many years requiring much restoration work to be done and most recently, undergoing major repairs in 1980.
This project carried out wide ranging repairs to much of the building including the walls of the folly and tower, conservation of external stonework, structural repairs to the tower floors and other works to reinstate the integrity of the building.
Structural work involved the restoration of the main tower by strengthening the intermediate timber floor, providing a new roof and including the reinstatement of machicolations and crenellations. Areas of unstable masonry were carefully dismantled, with recovered stones incorporated into the rebuilt sections.
The restoration was among the winners of the 2016 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards, Europe’s highest honour in the heritage field. The judges commenting that ‘This is an extraordinary example of a restoration of an iconic ruin which has served as an example for the construction of similar structures in Europe.’
