Sharpe's Folly

SHARPE'S FOLLY

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

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1155472
Date first listed:
21-Oct-1953
List Entry Name:
Sharpe's Folly
Statutory Address:
SHARPE'S FOLLY
A stone tower against a blue sky with trees.
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Location

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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2000-07-19
Reference:
IOE01/02779/30
Rights:
© Mr Bob Manekshaw. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II*
List Entry Number:
1155472
Date first listed:
21-Oct-1953
Date of most recent amendment:
29-May-1987
List Entry Name:
Sharpe's Folly
Statutory Address 1:
SHARPE'S FOLLY

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
SHARPE'S FOLLY

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

District:
Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Whitton and Tosson
National Grid Reference:
NU 05823 00939

Details

TOSSON WHITTON NU 00 SE 4/97 Sharpe's Folly (Formerly listed as 21.10.53 Sharp's Folly)

GV II*

Folly. Probably 1720s, by Archdeacon Sharpe, Rector of Rothbury. Ashlar. Round tower c30 ft high.

Blocked round-headed doorway with moulded keystone and slightly chamfered surround. Very small round windows light the staircase. High up, 4 round-headed windows with raised imposts and slightly chamfered surrounds; joinery has almost gone. Boldly projecting cornice, and castellated parapet.

Interior has cantilevered stone stair.

Said to have been built partly to alleviate local unemployment and partly to satisfy the Archdeacon's taste for astronomy. Probably the earliest folly in the county.

Hodgson J. : History of Northumberland, Part II Vol I : Newcastle : 1827.

Listing NGR: NU0582300939

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
236336
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Crawford Hodgson, J, A History of Northumberland in Hexhamshire Part II Hexham Whitley Chapel Allendale and St John Lee and the Parish of Chollerton the Chapelry of Kirkheaton the Parish of Throcrington, Vol. 1, (1897)

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Sharpe's Folly

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 22-Jun-2026 at 08:59:16.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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