Belvedere Tower To Summerhill Park (Blaine'S Folly)

Belvedere tower, known as Blaine's Folly, was built around 1870, possibly by the architects Hickes and Isaac from Bath. Constructed from limestone ashlar and rock-faced rubble, the tower features a tall Italianate design with a square shaft that slightly tapers above a battered rubble base. It has a blocked doorway topped with a small flat hood supported by corbel brackets and slit windows for a circular stair. The top storey, designed as a belvedere, includes a three-light arcaded window on each face. Originally, the tower had plain sash windows, but most have been replaced with plate glass. The corbelled parapet is adorned with turned balusters, although some are damaged or missing. The interior has not been inspected.

Historically, this tower is one of several belvederes in the Bath area and was built by Sir Robert Blaine, who was the Member of Parliament for Bath from 1883 to 1886, after he purchased Summerhill Park in 1868. The architects Hickes and Isaac are believed to have worked on this structure around 1870, as indicated by building control records. Blaine, known for his philanthropic efforts, is thought to have constructed the tower to provide employment. There is a suggestion that it may have served as a water tower, although there is no physical evidence to support this. Sale particulars from around 1900 describe the tower as a lofty stone structure, approximately 120 feet high, containing two rooms that offer splendid views of the City of Bath and the surrounding countryside, with access via a graduated incline. This tower is a late example of a Picturesque prospect tower and serves as an interesting counterpart to the more famous Lansdown Tower.