The Octagon Tower

The Octagon Tower is a tower built between 1728 and 1732 by Robert Doe for John Aislabie. It was altered after 1742 for William Aislabie and restored around 1970. Originally designed as a classical garden ornament, it was later modified in a Gothic style. The tower is octagonal and consists of three stages, featuring a deep plinth at the first stage and an entrance on the east side at the second stage. The entrance has a six-panel double door set in a Gothick-style porch with buttresses that contain arched niches. This entrance is accessed by eight steps, which are flanked by outward curving walls topped with pointed coping and end piers that have ball finials. The raised ground floor has round-arched sash windows with restored glazing bars, and above them are roll mouldings and pointed-arched recesses. The third stage features pointed quatrefoil openings at the parapet, which are topped with crocketed finials. The tower is part of a group that includes the Tunnel and Mr Aislabie's Kitchen. It is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.