My home is my Castle in Dulwich

[computedshorty]

So many have chosen E.Dulwich as their home.

It might be on a hill or in the valley.

But in their eyes is their Castle.

They will protect it as it is theirs.

[Voyageur]

With security lights, razor wire, hounds and booby traps.

Such is urban life....

[lameduck]

Where is this lovely folly?

[computedshorty]

Not far from Brenchly Gardens

LIPHOOK CRESCENT SE23

Folly Tower in back garden

TQ 3573 23/190

Circa 1880. Octagonal 3 storey tower of ironstone random rubble with

freestone dressings, ie quoins, drip mould at lst floor level, bowtell

moulding at 2nd floor and corbel table to low parapet (damaged). Octagonal staircase turret. Small, empty windows, with hollow chamfered elliptical stone arches, in chamfered square frames, 2 light on ground floor. Square doorway with hoodmould. Curiosity value.

[lameduck]

That is absolutley smashing, I do hope it belongs to you.

I wonder what the history was and who built it, these were usually built as whims in large

houses with large gardens, It would be interesting to know what was there before

the houses on liphook were built.

certainly beats the conservatory for a conversation piece

lynne

[ianr]

Here's a bird's eye view, showing it in its surroundings: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-203350-folly-tower-in-back-garden-of-number-23-/bingmap.

I've not found a photo of it on Geograph. It seems fairly well hidden from public view.

[computedshorty]

The folly was built in about 1880 at the highest point of the garden of Tewkesbury Lodge, a large house on Honor Oak Road, obviously to take advantage of the spectacular views.

The folly is now in the back garden of a house at 23 Liphook Crescent, and listed grade II.

Tewkesbury Lodge was built in the early 1850s and demolished in about 1930.

Charles Bayer (1846-1930), who made a fortune out of ladies? underwear, lived in Tewkesbury Lodge from about 1890.

A little known fact is that Bayer intended to leave his house and grounds to the LCC so that they could incorporate it into Horniman Gardens.

The legal details had not been finalised by the time of his death and, not surprisingly, his beneficiaries decided to abandon these plans and sell the land to developers.

[northlondoner]

Yes it's a real delight.

Used to live very near there.

[uncleglen]

I thought this thread was going to be about the Castle pub ....