| HER Number (PRN): | 10129 |
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| Name: | Lauras Tower, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury |
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| Type of Record: | Building |
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| Protected Status: | Listed Building (II) 1246559: LAURA'S TOWER |
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Monument Type(s):
- FOLLY (Late 18th century - 1760 AD to 1799 AD)
- TOWER (Late 18th century - 1760 AD to 1799 AD)
- GRAFFITI (Second World War - 1945 AD to 1945 AD)
Summary
A late 18th century folly built by Thomas Telford on top of the Norman motte of Shrewsbury Castle as a summerhouse for Laura, the daughter of Sir William Pulteney. Protected by Grade II Listing.
| Parish: | Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury and Atcham, Shropshire |
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| Map Sheet: | SJ41SE |
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| Grid Reference: | SJ 4948 1281 |
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Related records
| 62504 | Part of: Shrewsbury Castle motte (Monument) |
| 62505 | Part of: Shrewsbury Castle, tower on motte top (the watch tower) (Monument) |
Associated Finds: None recorded
Associated Events
- ESA7889 - 2001 DBA and building survey of Shrewsbury Castle by Richard K Morriss
Description
Tower, built as folly on castle motte. C1790. By Thomas Telford. Coursed and squared red sandstone, with conical copper roof. Octagonal, single storey over basement. Double curved external staircase leads to roll moulded 2-centred arched doorway, and there is another arched doorway at ground level between the arms of the staircase. Upper windows are wide lancets and there are a series of " arrow slits" above. Embattled parapet carried on corbels. Possible base of earlier tower on the site below. The tower was built by Thomas Telford for Laura, the daughter of Sir William Pulteney as a summer house <2>
Discussed in a desk-based assessment of the Castle in 2001, undertaken in association with the preparation of a conservation plan. Built on the footprint of the medieval watchtower (PRN 62505). Built by Telford in 1790. By the mid 20th century it was in a very poor condition. Restored and repaired by the borough in the 1960s. Includes outlined history, detailed description of interior and exterior. Described as a delightful little folly that would have served as a banqueting or garden room with views over the town. An early example of Telford's individual attempts at architecture. <3>
Graffitti from 1945 etched on outside of window of Laura's Tower. <4>
Sources
| [00] | SSA20722 - Card index: Shropshire County Council SMR. Site and Monuments Record (SMR) cards. SMR record cards. SMR Card for PRN SA 10129. |
| [01] | SSA3477 - List of Buildings: Department of the Environment (DoE). 1972-Sep-19. 5th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Shrewsbury). Vol 653-0. List volume. p42. |
| [02a] | SSA110 - Monograph: Pevsner Nikolaus. 1958. Buildings of England (Shropshire). Buildings of England. p.265. |
| [02] | SSA3458 - List of Buildings: Department of National Heritage (DNH). 1995-Nov-17. 47th List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Vol 653-1. List volume. p107. |
| [03] | SSA28884 - Deskbased survey report: Morriss Richard K. 2001. Shrewsbury Castle, Shrewsbury, Shropshire: an archaeological and architectural analysis. Mercian Heritage Series. 140. pp.72-75. |
| [04] | SSA26784 - HER comment: Carey Giles. 2014 onwards. Comments by Giles Carey, HER compiler in HER database. Site Visit, 10/09/2017. |
| Date Last Edited: | Jan 28 2022 4:41PM |
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