Yesterday I discovered Lansdown Tower, William Beckford's 1826 eyrie up on the downs above Bath. I'm keeping the photograph of it for the in-progress folly tower book, but just as a taster here are the railings of the cemetery consecrated soon after Beckford's death that adjoins the foot of the tower, and affords spectacular views down over the city.He and his architect Henry Goodridge are both buried here. Anyway, there are railings and there are railings, and these are simply superb. Also designed by Goodridge, they are heavily Romanesque, their elaborate detail only enhanced by the ivy creeping slowly over them. I do hope they don't trim it all off on the next maintenance run, which by the look of this and the cemetery thankfully isn't very often. Which is a good thing, as in and out of the sombre tombstones are profusions of wild flowers. These overgrown acres are a true oasis from modern life, one of those very rare places where it is still possible to reach out and palpably experience the distant past.
Sue: A book on 60 folly towers (and similar) has been in progress for some time. A limited edition book and trade edition will be available later this year I hope. I've got about 15 more to do, and the whole enterprise has been an utterly absorbing and joyful experience.
That sounds wonderful. I have always wanted to live in a folly tower - or at least stay in one. Don't the National Trust have one or two that they rent out? They are quite big on folly towers here in Germany or at least having a ruin built in the back garden.
I am a designer, writer and photographer who spends all his time looking at England, particularly buildings and the countryside. But I have a leaning towards the slightly odd and neglected, the unsung elements that make England such an interesting place to live in. I am the author and photographer of over 25 books, in particular Unmitigated England (Adelphi 2006), More from Unmitigated England (Adelphi 2007), Cross Country (Wiley 2011), The Cigarette Papers (Frances Lincoln 2012), Preposterous Erections (Frances Lincoln 2012) and English Allsorts (Adelphi 2015)
"Open this book with reverence. It is a hymn to England". Clive Aslet
Preposterous Erections
"Enchanting...delightful". The Bookseller "Cheekily named" We Love This Book
The Cigarette Papers
"Unexpectedly pleasing and engrossing...beautifully illustrated". The Bookseller
Cross Country
"Until the happy advent of Peter Ashley's Cross Country it has, ironically, been foreigners who have been best at celebrating Englishness". Christina Hardyment / The Independent
More from Unmitigated England
"Give this book to someone you know- if not everyone you know." Simon Heffer, Country Life. "When it comes to spotting the small but telling details of Englishness, Peter Ashley has no equal." Michael Prodger, Sunday Telegraph
Yesterday I discovered Lansdown Tower, William Beckford's 1826 eyrie up on the downs above Bath. I'm keeping the photograph of it for the in-progress folly tower book, but just as a taster here are the railings of the cemetery consecrated soon after Beckford's death that adjoins the foot of the tower, and affords spectacular views down over the city. He and his architect Henry Goodridge are both buried here. Anyway, there are railings and there are railings, and these are simply superb. Also designed by Goodridge, they are heavily Romanesque, their elaborate detail only enhanced by the ivy creeping slowly over them. I do hope they don't trim it all off on the next maintenance run, which by the look of this and the cemetery thankfully isn't very often. Which is a good thing, as in and out of the sombre tombstones are profusions of wild flowers. These overgrown acres are a true oasis from modern life, one of those very rare places where it is still possible to reach out and palpably experience the distant past. 
7 comments:
One of those places I've meant to seek out. Thanks for showing us these telling details.
I've lived in Bath for 4 years now, and I've still not made it up. Now I have even more impetus to do so.
The folly tower book sounds interesting - can you tell us more?
Sue: A book on 60 folly towers (and similar) has been in progress for some time. A limited edition book and trade edition will be available later this year I hope. I've got about 15 more to do, and the whole enterprise has been an utterly absorbing and joyful experience.
That sounds wonderful. I have always wanted to live in a folly tower - or at least stay in one. Don't the National Trust have one or two that they rent out? They are quite big on folly towers here in Germany or at least having a ruin built in the back garden.
Sue: You need the Landmark Trust. Lots of folly towers to stay in, and much more.
Oh yes, that's jogged my memory - thanks. Just had a look at the Landmark Trust website - this could provide hours of amusement.
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