GARRISON TOWER

GARRISON TOWER, THE GARRISON

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Overview

A C17 windmill, converted to a lookout tower after 1831. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1328847
Date first listed:: 14-Dec-1992
List Entry Name:: GARRISON TOWER
Statutory Address:: GARRISON TOWER, THE GARRISON

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Date:: 2002-06-04
Reference:: IOE01/06838/05
Rights:: © Mr GW Tanner. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1328847
Date first listed:: 14-Dec-1992
Date of most recent amendment:: 14-Feb-2011
List Entry Name:: GARRISON TOWER
Statutory Address 1:: GARRISON TOWER, THE GARRISON

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:: GARRISON TOWER, THE GARRISON

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

District:: Isles of Scilly (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: St. Mary's
National Grid Reference:: SV 89802 10334

Details

1358/3/84 THE GARRISON 14-DEC-1992 HUGH TOWN Garrison Tower (Formerly listed as: THE GARRISON HUGH TOWN Signal Gun Tower)

II A C17 windmill, converted to a lookout tower after 1831.

The tower is built of roughly coursed granite, is circular on plan and stands three storeys high. The building is approximately four metres in diameter and twelve metres tall. There are granite lintels over the doorways and windows. The ground-floor doorway is accessed via stone steps, attached to which are a metal balustrade and a low, square, rubble stone structure. The seven windows on the second floor denote the position of the C19 observation room, from which a doorway leads onto a metal balcony. Slit openings at the lower level are probably later insertions. The tower is topped by a stone parapet with a single embrasure. A flagstaff is fixed to one side of the embrasure. A downpipe, with hopper, is fixed to one side of the tower, and cuts through the parapet band.

History: The windmill was probably erected in the early-C17. By 1750 the windmill, together with its partner, which was subsequently destroyed, had been abandoned and ruinous. After 1831 the tower was occupied for a short time by the Coastguard, and in about 1869 it was acquired by Shipping Gazette as a lookout for reporting shipping movements. In 1871 Lloyds of London took over the building, eventually purchasing it in 1882. The building is now used as holiday accommodation.

Sources: Goodwin, J. Granite towers on St, Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornish Archaeology, No.32, 1993, 128-139 Woodley, Rev. G. A View of the Present State of the Scilly Islands, 1822, 225.

Cornwall County Council/ English Heritage, Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment for The Isles of Scilly, 2004, p109: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/isles-of-scilly-rczas/islesofscilly20080116095450.pdf [accessed 25/11/10]

Cornwall and Scilly HER records (http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO31568&resourceID=1020):

7901.05: HUGH TOWN - Medieval windmill 7901.06: WINDMILL - Medieval windmill [Accessed on 26/11/10]

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION Garrison Tower, The Garrison, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, a former C17 windmill, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural: An interesting example of a pre-1700 windmill, converted to a signal station in the C19. * Historical: A distinctive early windmill tower, and a surviving example of an adapted structure used in the highly-competitive shipping industry of the C19.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 62523
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

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