The Portobello Tower

The Portobello Tower, Hilton Park, Hilton

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1374118
Date first listed:: 16-May-1953
List Entry Name:: The Portobello Tower
Statutory Address:: The Portobello Tower, Hilton Park, Hilton

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1374118
Date first listed:: 16-May-1953
List Entry Name:: The Portobello Tower
Statutory Address 1:: The Portobello Tower, Hilton Park, Hilton

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: The Portobello Tower, Hilton Park, Hilton

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Staffordshire
District:: South Staffordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Hilton
National Grid Reference:: SJ 95000 04646

Details

SJ 90 SE 7/16

HILTON C.P. HILTON PARK The Portobello Tower

16.5.53

II

Commemorative tower. Between 1739 and 1765. For Henry Vernon, perhaps by Richard Trubshaw of Haywood, Staffs. Ashlar with herringbone pattern tooling. Hexagonal piers. Three stages with moulded plinth and storey bands. Ground floor door-way to the south with raised and beaded architrave and lintel ramped up to a keystone. On the north side of the tower directly opposite the door is a niche with similar surround containing a marble plaque inscribed:

"THIS TOWER WAS ERECTED BY / HENRY VERNON OF HILTON PARK / BORN 13th SEPTEMBER 1718, DIED 1765 / TO COMMEMORATE THE TAKING OF PORTOBELLO / WITH SIX SHIPS OF THE LINE NOV 22nd 1739 BY / ADMIRAL VERNON / BORN 12th NOVEMBER 1684, DIED 1757 / IN 1763 A MONUMENT WAS ERECTED TO / ADMIRAL VERNON IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY / A.L.V. 1911.

Semi-circular arched windows with raised surrounds, bracketed sills, imposts and raised keys to the upper stages.

Interior. Spiral staircase leading to the top of the tower. The Portobello Tower must have been built between 1739 when Admiral Vernon took Portobello and 1765 when Henry Vernon died. Richard Trubshaw is recorded as having worked for Henry Vernon at Hilton in 1748 and he may have been the architect of Hilton Park (q.v.) of circa 1720-30. It is possible that he was also the architect of The Portobello Tower. Admiral Vernon is reputed to have introduced the custom of watering the rum that was issued to his sailors. The new drink was known as grog and took its name from Vernon's own nickname "Old Grog" which was a reference to the cloak of grogram that he habitually wore. The Portobello Tower is now roofless and derelict.

Listing NGR: SJ9500004646

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 271784
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Colvin, H M, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (1978), 842-3
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Staffordshire, (1974), 147

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.