Latest news with #WalterBartonMay
Daily Record
06-08-2025
- Daily Record
UK gothic tower that's tallest in the world now for sale - what it's like inside
The amazing tower, which dates back to the 18th century, is currently up for sale through estate agents Fine & Country for £2,780,000. A 175-foot tall tower is on the market as a family home for £2.78 million. The Grade I-listed Hadlow Tower, which is known as 'May's Folly' to locals, is the tallest gothic folly in the world and features four bedrooms spread across five floors. Having undergone a £4.2 million restoration in 2013, the tower stands six feet taller than Nelson's Column and is surrounded by private gardens, woodlands, and even a charming lake. It also has a parapet that offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the lovely Hadlow village in Tonbridge, Kent. Even though it looks like it's straight out of a fantasy book, this historic tower has all the modern amenities of a family home. Once part of a Romantic Gothic style 18th-century castle, you can enter the tower through a triple-arched entrance located on the village high street. A winding private road leads you to this stunning tower, complete with a parking area and a grand walled courtyard. There are also ancillary buildings that have been transformed into six private residences, whose owners, along with the tower's tenant, take care of the shared grounds featuring expansive lawns, trees, and a lake surrounded by vibrant shrubs. The octagonal tower has three entrances. The main entrance features a double-height arched front door that opens into a lobby with an original brick floor, a reception hall with terracotta flooring, and a lift that services the first four floors. Additionally, there's a utility room, a cloakroom, a boiler room, a boot cupboard, a pair of original oak external doors, and access to both the main circular staircase and an outer circular stone staircase. The first floor has an octagonal dining room, a cool arched recess, and sculpted oak doors from the original castle. It opens into a small hallway with the main staircase and doors that lead to a triple-aspect kitchen/breakfast room featuring stained glass windows also from the original castle. One level up, gothic casement windows look into the drawing room, showcasing the exposed beams and a brick arched fireplace. Steps lead down to a double bedroom and its en-suite. The main stone staircase takes you up to another double bedroom, while oak steps lead to the principal suite, which has exposed beams, storage space, and a modern en-suite. On the fourth floor, the last double bedroom has an octagonal dressing room with a walk-in wardrobe, oak stairs leading to a bathroom, and a door opening to the castellated roof terrace, which provides breathtaking views of the countryside. The floor above features a convenient study area, and there's external access to the castellated parapet. Local legends say that the tower's backstory is tied to its former owner, Walter Barton May, who had a habit of spying on his estranged wife and her new boyfriend. After May's wife eloped with a local farmer, he constructed the tower next to the family castle - which was built by his dad - to keep an eye on her and her new partner. But May wasn't happy with how tall the tower was, so he later added a 40-foot 'lantern' on top. The tower suffered significant damage during the Great Storm of 1987, and the lantern was taken down in 1996. After falling into a state of neglect, the tower received a £4.2 million makeover in 2013, thanks to funding from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Its restoration earned several Historic England Angel Awards and the Lloyd-Webber Angel Award. In 2011, a precise replica of the original lantern that was lost in the 1987 storm was installed. The tower's current owner explained that though he and his family had been privileged to live at Hadlow Tower for the past few years, his work was taking him abroad, meaning he'd have to part ways with the home. He said: "My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, including the peaceful and tranquil environment. "Although where we are is private and peaceful, Hadlow high street is at the end of the lane. This charming village is in a Conservation area and includes many attractive period properties and a variety of shops, pubs, hairdressers, a restaurant, a church, a library and a medical centre. "For the more energetic, there are cricket and bowls clubs as well as a good primary school and the renowned Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture, which includes the Broadview Gardens complex that has a tearoom and florist and where you can enjoy wandering around the grounds. "Other facilities are available in nearby Tonbridge," he said. "Including excellent grammar and private schools, independent shops and high street stores, pubs, restaurants, a theatre and the station, where trains to London take around 30 to 40 minutes. "There is also the Tonbridge School leisure club, while for golfing enthusiasts there are numerous golf clubs and courses within a radius of nine miles around Hadlow, including the local Poult Wood Public Golf Centre."
Daily Mirror
06-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Inside UK's tallest gothic tower in the world on sale as family home for £2.78m
The spectacular 18th-century Hadlow Tower is on sale with estate agents Fine & Country for £2,780,000. This 175ft-tall tower is being sold as a family home for £2.78m. The Grade I-listed, 18th-century Hadlow Tower - or 'May's Folly' as locals call it - is the tallest gothic folly in the world and boasts four bedrooms over five floors. The tower, which underwent a £4.2m restoration in 2013, is 6ft taller than Nelson's Column and surrounded by private gardens, woodlands and even a picturesque lake. It also boasts a parapet with stunning 360-degree views of quaint Hadlow village in Tonbridge, Kent. However, despite appearing to have come straight from the pages of a fantasy novel, the historic tower has all the features of a modern family home. Once part of a Romantic Gothic style 18th-century castle, the tower is accessed through a triple-arched entrance on the village high street. A winding private road leads to the spectacular tower, a parking area and an impressive walled courtyard. Ancillary buildings have been converted into six private dwellings, the owners of which, together with the tenant of the tower, maintain communal grounds of sweeping lawns, trees and a lake encircled by colourful shrubs. The octagonal tower boasts three entrances. The main, double-height arched front door leads to a lobby with an original brick floor, a reception hall with terracotta flooring, and a lift to the first four floors. There is also a utility room, a cloakroom, a boiler room, a boot cupboard, a pair of original oak external doors, and access to the main circular staircase and an outer circular stone staircase. The first floor features an octagonal dining room, a unique arched recess, and sculptured oak doors from the original castle. It leads into a small corridor with the main staircase and doors leading to a triple-aspect kitchen/breakfast room with stained glass windows also taken from the original castle. One floor up, gothic casement windows peer in on the exposed beams and brick arched fireplace of the drawing room, with steps down to a double bedroom and en-suite. The main stone staircase leads up to another double bedroom, whilst oak steps lead to the principal suite with exposed beams, storage facilities and a contemporary ensuite. On the fourth floor, a final double bedroom boasts an octagonal dressing room with a walk-in wardrobe, oak stairs leading to a bathroom, and a door to the castellated roof terrace, which offers stunning countryside views. The floor above includes a handy study area, whilst external access leads to the external castellated parapet. Local lore has it that the tower's origins relate to its previous owner, Walter Barton May, and his penchant for spying on his estranged wife and her new partner. When May's wife ran off with a local farmer, he had the tower built alongside the family castle - built by his father - to keep tabs on his wife and her new lover. However, unsatisfied with the tower's height, May later added a 40-foot 'lantern' at the top. The tower was badly damaged in the Great Storm of 1987, and the lantern was later removed in 1996. Having fallen into disrepair, the tower underwent a £4.2 million restoration in 2013 with the help of grants from English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Its impressive restoration won multiple Historic England Angel Awards and the Lloyd-Webber Angel Award. An exact replica of the original lantern that was destroyed during the 1987 storm was added in 2011. The tower's current owner explained that though he and his family had been privileged to live at Hadlow Tower for the past few years, his work was taking him abroad, meaning he'd have to part ways with the home. He said: "My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, including the peaceful and tranquil environment. "Although where we are is private and peaceful, Hadlow high street is at the end of the lane. This charming village is in a Conservation area and includes many attractive period properties and a variety of shops, pubs, hairdressers, a restaurant, a church, a library and a medical centre. "For the more energetic, there are cricket and bowls clubs as well as a good primary school and the renowned Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture, which includes the Broadview Gardens complex that has a tearoom and florist and where you can enjoy wandering around the grounds. "Other facilities are available in nearby Tonbridge," he said. "Including excellent grammar and private schools, independent shops and high street stores, pubs, restaurants, a theatre and the station, where trains to London take around 30 to 40 minutes. "There is also the Tonbridge School leisure club, while for golfing enthusiasts there are numerous golf clubs and courses within a radius of nine miles around Hadlow, including the local Poult Wood Public Golf Centre."
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
World's tallest Victorian Gothic tower transformed into 4-bed home with stunning panoramic views hits the market in UK
The property has been given a £4.2 million revamp, and even has its own lift LIVE THE HIGH LIFE World's tallest Victorian Gothic tower transformed into 4-bed home with stunning panoramic views hits the market in UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE world's tallest Victorian Gothic tower, with five floors and a roof terrace, has been transformed into a breathtaking four bed home. Ever wanted to live out your Disney princess fantasy? Well now you can, as the former castle has hit the UK market. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 One lucky homeowner can call this stunning tower their home Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells 7 The gorgeous abode has four bedrooms and four bathrooms Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells 7 The tower has been transformed in to a modern family home Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells Hadlow Tower, a Grade I listed 175ft property sits six feet taller than Nelson's Column, and was once part of a Romantic Gothic style 18th century castle. It was built by wealthy merchant Walter Barton May in 1838 so he could spy on his estranged wife who left him for a local farmer. The tower was then used as a look out during World War Two, but was saved by Royal painter Bernard Hailstone. During a ferocious storm in 1987, the tower was severely damaged, and fell in to disrepair before it was restored in 2013 with the help of a £4.2 million grant provided by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Read more property stories HOME HACKS Struggling to sell your house? Boost your property price by £80k with 5 features buyers want, from as little as 55p Situated in the quaint village of Hadlow, in Tonbridge, Kent, the unique abode can be accessed via a triple-arched Gothic Entrance on the village high street. The castle can be found at the end of a long, winding, private countryside road, next to six additional buildings which have also now be converted into private properties. 7 The gorgeous property has undergone a £4.2 million restoration Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells The owners of these properties, as well as the owner of the tower have access to the communal former castle grounds, including sweeping lawns and a magnificent lake. Hadlow Tower, which is listed on Rightmove for an eye-watering £2,780,000 includes many original Gothic features, including orante mouldings and arched windows. However, the interior has been transformed in to a modern family home, that even has a lift. There's a cinema room, four bathrooms, a private garden and a castellated parapet, with astounding 360 degree views. This European castle was the inspiration for Disney The master bedroom, known as the Rapunzel Room, has its own roof terrace. The 3.45acre grounds boast a croquet lawn and an ornamental boating lake. Although the tower is tucked away, at the end of the lane is the bustling Hadlow high street, featuring a variety of shops, pubs, a library and a hairdressers. In nearby Tonbridge, there are also a number of great schools, and you can catch a train that will arrive in London in just 30-40 minutes. 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. The owner of the property said: "This has been a very exciting and unique home that I have been privileged and proud to own for the past few years. "I and my family have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, including the peaceful and tranquil environment, but my business is taking my abroad so I feel it is time to hand the baton over to new custodians who will appreciate the uniqueness of this amazing place in such an incredible setting." James Mackenzie, head of Strutt & Parker's National Country House Department described the tower as "historically fascinating". He said: "Hadlow Tower had £4.5million invested into it so it is both historically fascinating and brand new. "It has the best of everything with incredible craftsmanship and every modern benefit. "This tower is a masterpiece and we've already had dozens of enquiries about it including foreign buyers." 7 It is the tallest Gothic tower in the UK Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells 7 It is situated in the borough of Tonbridge Credit: Rightmove/Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells
