Oakley Folly

SJ 73 NW LOGGERHEADS C.P B5415 (off east side) Tyrley 8/141 Oakley Folly

17/11/66

II

Folly, now ruinous. Probably late C18. Red brick and coursed sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings, plain tiled roofs. Built in the form of a late C18 church, consisting of nave and tower. Tower: brick in 3 short stages with moulded stone cornice and brick parapet, carried up as chimney stack in south-east corner; brick corner pilasters with blind lancet decoration, one to each stage; broad lancet windows to each face, now much mutilated; against the east face are the foundations and the outline of the roof pitch of a former brick lean-to. "Nave": coursed sandstone. Rectangular plan. 2 levels; wide round-arched entrances on long sides with raised keystones and imposts; beam ends supporting former first floor are visible through put-log holes. Interior: staircase in north- east corner of tower leads down to basement and up to second and third stages; access to former first floor of "nave" through doorway in north face of tower. Remains of fireplaces in south-east corner of tower, that to third stage with classical pediment. The "nave" was originally used as a field barn; later, at the end of C19, the tower was adopted by Sir Philip Chetwode as a place from which to view his racing horses. The folly was subsequently converted to domestic accommodation, but is said to have been struck by lightning and is in poor condition due to neglect at time of re-survey (1984).

Listing NGR: SJ7150636380