Gothic Folly For Sale

Thursday, 7 August 2025 21:29

By Martin Webber

One of West Kent’s major landmarks, Hadlow Tower, is being sold.

The gothic folly is priced at £ 2.78 million. It is Grade 1 listed and is 175 feet tall.

It was built in 1838 and once formed part of a grand castle in the Romantic Gothic style.

Hadlow Tower is now a private home with 4 bedrooms.

The Tower underwent a £4 million restoration in 2013, partly funded by English Heritage.

It is 8 feet taller than Nelson's column which was constructed at about the same time.

There are five floors and there is a lift.

It’s known by locals as “May’s Folly” after a previous owner, Walter Barton May, who - it is said - built the tower to be able to spy on his estranged wife after she deserted him.

Historians say it was more likely built to show off his vast wealth.

In 1951 the main building of the castle was demolished for building materials.

Bernard Hailstone RP, a renowned portrait painter (of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Chirchill amongst others), purchased the Tower and the remaining courtyard buildings, preventing its demise.

1976 saw the Tower converted to a dwelling by the Danish Photographer Soren Jensen.

The Tower exchanged hands again. It was then badly damaged by the exceptional storms of 1987 and fell into disrepair. The lantern base crumbled and had to be dismantled.

In January 2011, the tower was compulsorily purchased by Tonbridge and Malling District Council.

The council then sold it to the Vivat Trust for £1. Restoration of the tower, including the replacement of the lantern began in February 2011.

The Heritage Lottery Fund granted £2,000,000 of the estimated £4,000,000 restoration cost. After restoration, the tower offered holiday accommodationwith public exhibition space on the ground floor.

The restoration was completed in February 2013, making it the tallest folly in the United Kingdom.

Following the collapse of Vivat Trust, the tower was offered for sale in May 2016. In 2017 the tower was sold to a private individual for £425,000.

The tower was re-listed for sale in 2020 with Sotheby's for £1,475,000.

The current owner is reported in the Mirror as saying that - athough he and his family had been privileged to live at Hadlow Tower for the past few years - his work was taking him abroad, meaning he'd have to part ways with the home. He said: "My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, including the peaceful and tranquil environment".

The original castle is shown below in an etching: