Folly Castle About 3/4 Mile North Of Wimpole Hall

Folly Castle, located about three-quarters of a mile north of Wimpole Hall, was built between 1768 and 1770 by architect James Essex. The structure is made of red brick with coursed clunch ashlar facing and features three towers connected by curtain walling. The central tower, designed to be an eye-catcher from Wimpole Hall, consists of four stages and originally had an embattled and corbelled parapet. Each stage includes windows with two lights, featuring Y-tracery in the two central arches and crosslet loop lights. On the west side of the curtain wall, there is an original entrance opening adorned with shields of arms and a three-light window with Y-tracery above. The design of Folly Castle is based on drawings provided by Sanderson Miller for the first Lord Hardwicke in 1749-50.