Broadway Tower is an interesting folly located atop Broadway Hill, hence the name Broadway Tower, in the English village of Broadway, which is part of Worcestershire, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The folly in architecture presents more of a building constructed mainly for decoration, although there could be some other purposes through its extravagant appearance.
Being an iconic landmark from the rolling Cotswold Hills, the tower was built on a beacon hill, where beacons were usually lit when there were special occasions. This mesmerizing piece of architecture was the brainchild of Lancelot Brown, better known as Capability Brown, and it was designed by English architect, James Wyatt in 1794.
The Broadway Tower was built between 1798 and 1799 for Lady Coventry who wondered if she would be able to see it from her house which was some 35 km (22 mi) away from the beacon hill. The sort of Saxon-style tower was designed quite eccentrically with the combination of architectural components ranging from turrets, battlements, and gargoyles to balconies, making it certainly one of a kind in the country.
Over the years, the tower was the main location for the printing press of Sir Thomas Phillipps, but it was also used as a retreat of the British textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist, William Morris, who was so enthused by the beauty and historic importance of the tower and other heritage structures that he established the ‘Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 1877’.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the lovely tower was converted to a surprisingly humdrum role as a farmhouse, thus becoming known as the Tower Farm. Fortunately, in 1976 Broadway Tower began to open for the general public on the initiative of Lord Dulverton of Batsford Estate, but the future was uncertain because in 1980 some circumstances led to the sale of the Middle Hill Estate. The Will Family was the one that managed to save and preserve this grandiose landmark, simply because Hans-Eugen Will, an entrepreneur and passionate aviator, with his wife Renate had great appreciation of the folly.
Their firm belief that this landmark should be kept was the point in turning Broadway Tower into something that would bring more people to the large village and civil parish and ultimately make it one of the most recognizable landmarks. Nowadays, at 20 m (65 ft) in height, Broadway Tower is so much developed that it has a museum, guided experience, outdoor living, and adventure that awaits all those who would like to see it in person.
All in all, it is well worth seeing this amazing architectural masterpiece which is usually open between April and October for the general public, and this tourist attraction shall certainly grow in popularity in the years to come.
