Oliver Duckett Folly, Richmond, N. Yorks

I love follies. I have a great book about them which gives details about each one in the United Kingdom (though there are some in Scotland which I have come across and which are not in the book - which always makes me feel like I have discovered it and know something that the folly experts don't!).

According to my book, this folly is one of only a handful which have been named after a person. Mr Duckett used to have a house on this spot apparently. It was originally a sort of "medieval pillbox" for Richmond Castle, hence the high, almost impossible to assail, base - in fact the door is on the level above, and so must have been accessible only by a ladder. Gunports around the top section are further evidence of it's defensive role. It was restored in the late 18th century to leave the folly that remains today.

I took this photo about 7am and facing east, so the light is still hazy, almost silhouetting the folly.