Sharpe'S Folly

Sharpe's Folly is a folly built in the 1720s by Archdeacon Sharpe, who was the Rector of Rothbury. Constructed from ashlar, the round tower stands approximately 30 feet high. It features a blocked round-headed doorway with a moulded keystone and a slightly chamfered surround. There are very small round windows that illuminate the staircase, and higher up, four round-headed windows with raised imposts and slightly chamfered surrounds, although the joinery is mostly gone. The structure has a boldly projecting cornice and a castellated parapet.

Inside, there is a cantilevered stone stair. This folly is said to have been built partly to alleviate local unemployment and partly to satisfy the Archdeacon's interest in astronomy. It is likely the earliest folly in the county.