Peterson'S Tower

Peterson's Tower is a folly tower built between 1879 and 1885 for A.T. Peterson. It is constructed from mass concrete in lifts, with the concrete being rammed into wooden frames. The tower stands 66 meters high and has a slender, square plan, featuring a higher polygonal stair-turret and a lantern at the top. The structure consists of a plinth and three stages, with a total of ten storeys. The central stage is larger, and there is a moulded string between the stages. Each face of the stages has recessed pointed panels, and the windows are mostly pointed, reflecting an Indian architectural style, particularly in the drum and domes of the stair-turret and lantern. At ground floor level, there are two single-storey wings. Peterson intended to be entombed at the top of the tower with a permanent strong light, but this was not permitted. The tower serves as a landmark in the tradition of 18th-century follies and is a remarkably early example of concrete construction.