A Squire's Folly

Recent work on the A512 leading out of Loughborough to the M1 and Shepshed, has opened up this view of the Temple of Venus, a folly designed by Ambrose Phillips (the Squire), in the 1730s.

It isn't the best sightline which is further to the east along a drive lined by alternating deciduous and coniferous trees, but this is likely to be the best view I can get without being shooed off the land for trespassing.

There's going to be a horrendous amount of housing built on the Garendon Estate as part of the Charnwood Local Plan, which the council is being pressured to do by Government. But then, that also brings in people who will pay council tax. As yet, there has been no mention of a medical centre although two primary schools are promised.

Charnwood used to be semi-rural and leafy but is now destined to be one huge housing hub servicing development of whatever nature in Loughborough, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. I expect most of that is anticipated to be in the Service Sector. Across the road from here, developers are supposed to be building a Business and Science Park.

The folly itself is a Grade II listed building in fair condition but needing some maintenance. Arguments are continuing about who would be responsible for this. The present squire is rumoured not to be moving from Garendon Park Estate for 30 years so the land, which was supposed to become a public amenity will remain private and firmly barred against trespassers.

I was out shortly before nine am to take this, as part of the #rps_periurban project being undertaken by the East Midlands and Central regions.