WESTERTON FOLLY AT NZ 2402031057

NZ23SW 634-1/2/198 20/09/72

BISHOP AUCKLAND WESTERTON (North side) Westerton Folly at NZ 2402031057

GV II

Observatory. Used at one time as reading room and by 1924 as council office. c1765. For Thomas Wright of Byers Green. Rubble stone with ashlar dressings; no roof. Tall round tower of 3 storeys. Ground floor has 6 shallow buttresses with offsets and coping. Rusticated round-headed surround to blocked door at east. Plain stone Tudor-arched surround between 2nd and 3rd buttresses left from door. Cross arrow slits in ground floor. First floor band. Arrow slits and small lancet slits, probably stair lights, above. Each upper floor has a round-headed opening facing north-east. All lights blocked except first-floor south-east lancet and second floor larger opening. Top band. No access to interior. Commemorative plaque to left of door, "This observatory tower was erected by Thomas Wright born at Byers Green 1711 died there 1786. To commemorate his treatise THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE published 1750, this tablet was placed here by the University of Durham 1950." (Surtees H C: History of the Parish of Coundon: Mainsforth: 1924-: 8).

Listing NGR: NZ2402031057