Monument Type(s):

• FOLLY (Late 18th century - 1780 AD to 1780 AD)

Summary

A folly or eye catcher built by Corbet of Sundorne Castle in c 1780. It comprised two circular towers and a length of connecting wall, and may have been used a lodge or a hunting box. One tower and part of wall collapsed in 1931. Part of Scheduled Monument NHLE 1021282.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events: None recorded

Description

Two circular towers and length of connecting wall built on summit of hill in 1780. One tower and part of wall collapsed early June 1931. Flag flown from tower to indicate that John Corbet of Sundorne (Master of Warwickshire Foxhounds) was hunting in the county <1>

John Corbet of Sundorne House (PRN 13386) employed the Edinburgh architect and landscape designer, Robert Mylne. As well as making additions to the house in 1774, Mylne was also responsible for building a folly called Haughmond Castle some 2km to the SE on the west side of Haughmond Hill. This may have been used as a lodge or a hunting box and was situated at the furthest point of the Sundorne carriage drive <3>

Haughmond Castle was demolished in the 20th century, but photographs and especially an excellent watercolour of 1790 (E. Williams watercolours, 6001/372 in Shropshire Archives) show it to have been a two-storey, twin towered, crenelated structure, which presumably functioned , as it is sometimes described, as a hunting box [<4.1>]. It is usually ascribed to Mylne, but whether it was built at the same time as the castle [viz Sundorne Castle] or a little later, when the five mile drive was laid out, remains uncertain. <4>

Close to the western side of the hillfort [PRN 00135] are the remains of Haughmond Castle, a late 18th century folly originally used as a signal tower to alert huntsmen of a forthcoming foxhunt in the area. Information from a large scale Ordnance Survey map published in 1881 and early 20th century photographs indicate that it consisted of three semicircular two storey crenellated towers set in a triangle separated by an arched gateway. Much of this folly collapsed in 1931. Part of its base, comprising irregularly coursed rubble-built walls held in place by iron bands, stands about 1 m high. Dressed sandstone blocks that originally formed part of this structure lie close to the standing remains. <5> <5a>

A family photograph of two children standing in front of one of the towers, and dating from c 1933, was made available to the HER in 2011. <6>

Shropshire Archives hold a watercolour of Haughmond Hill Castle folly (Reference
6001/372/1/90), by Reverend Edward Williams, dated to 1789, which shows the as designed castle (prior to collapse in 1931). A small-scale thumbnail can be found via their online catalogue: https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X6001_19_372A_90. <7>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.