Rushford Tower

Rushford Tower is a small observation tower built in the mid or late 19th century. It is constructed from granite stone rubble laid in rough courses, featuring large dressed quoins and some granite ashlar detail. The roof is currently missing. The tower has a square plan and was originally two storeys high, facing east. A circular newel stair turret projects from the left (south) side and rises higher than the main structure. Designed in the Victorian Gothic style, the tower's front includes a relatively large doorway with a two-centred arch made of ashlar voussoirs, leading to a plank door. Above the doorway is a twin lancet window with sunken spandrels in the headstone. A plain projecting stringcourse runs along the top, although the parapet above has collapsed. This stringcourse also continues around the stair turret. Below it, there is a small slit window that lights the stairs, along with a series of small plain lancets and another stringcourse at the top. Inside, only the granite stairs remain. The tower is located in woodland owned by the Hayter-Hames family of Chagford House, who used the woods for shooting parties, with the tower serving as a viewing point for women and children to watch the sport.