St Anthony's Tower

Today's the day .................... to look from afar

I've often seen this round, grey tower, standing on the hilltop behind Milnthorpe but until today, I've never seen it at close quarters.

Actually, I wasn't really all that close today because it is extremely difficult to get anywhere near as it is on private land and there is no public right-of-way to it.  Records say that the tower contains a vaulted ground floor chamber, and a first floor room reached by a winding external stair.  From there an internal stair once wound up to the roof of the tower, where the stump of a flagpole is still visible.

It was built by one Henry Smithies to commemorate the passing of the 1832 Reform Bill - an excuse for folly builders all over the country. In World War II, it was used as an observation post, being manned by the Home Guard.  Apparently, it has been restored - but it's not open to the public. 

Thank goodness for zoom lenses, I say .................