Westerton Folly at NZ 2402031057
WESTERTON FOLLY AT NZ 2402031057
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1196452
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Westerton Folly at NZ 2402031057
- Statutory Address:
- WESTERTON FOLLY AT NZ 2402031057
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-11-09
- Reference:
- IOE01/15007/02
- Rights:
- © Mr Bob Cottrell. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1196452
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-1972
- List Entry Name:
- Westerton Folly at NZ 2402031057
- Statutory Address 1:
- WESTERTON FOLLY AT NZ 2402031057
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.
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- WESTERTON FOLLY AT NZ 2402031057
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ2402031057
Details
NZ23SW
634-1/2/198
20/09/72
BISHOP AUCKLAND
WESTERTON
(North side)
Westerton Folly at NZ 2402031057
GV
II
Observatory. Used at one time as reading room and by 1924 as
council office. c1765. For Thomas Wright of Byers Green.
Rubble stone with ashlar dressings; no roof. Tall round tower
of 3 storeys.
Ground floor has 6 shallow buttresses with offsets and coping.
Rusticated round-headed surround to blocked door at east.
Plain stone Tudor-arched surround between 2nd and 3rd
buttresses left from door. Cross arrow slits in ground floor.
First floor band. Arrow slits and small lancet slits, probably
stair lights, above. Each upper floor has a round-headed
opening facing north-east. All lights blocked except
first-floor south-east lancet and second floor larger opening.
Top band. No access to interior.
Commemorative plaque to left of door, "This observatory tower
was erected by Thomas Wright born at Byers Green 1711 died
there 1786. To commemorate his treatise THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE
published 1750, this tablet was placed here by the University
of Durham 1950."
(Surtees H C: History of the Parish of Coundon: Mainsforth:
1924-: 8).
Listing NGR: NZ2402031057
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 385618
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Surtees, HC, History of the Parish of Coundon, (1926), 8
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 00:14:38.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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