Leith Hill Tower

Leith Hill is the highest point in Southern England.

Originally called the Prospect House, this 19.5 meter folley was built by Richard Hull, in 1766, with the sole purpose to raise the hill above 1000 ft. This gave Leith Hill the status of a mountain.
From the top, on a clear day, you can just see the sea through the Berling Gap and it is said that you have views over thirteen counties.

Visiting with a good pair of binoculars is a must. The views are quite incredible! You can clearly see planes taking off from Gatwick on one side and planes heading to land at Heathrow from the other. Windsor, Wembley Stadium and the London Eye to the north and the verdant Weald valley leading the eye far out to the sea in the south.

Alfred Tennyson visited in 1835 and wrote The Sleeping Beauty as he roamed the woodland slopes. He also began to pen Sir Galahad.

'I leave the plain I climb the height;

No branchy thicket shelter yields;

But blessed forms in whistling storms

Fly o'er waste fens, and windy fields'


When Hull died, he requested to be buried under the tower. Myths rumoured that he was buried head down but excavation of his tomb has, unfortunately, proved this to be untrue.

I love a good story!