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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Location
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Discover moreOfficial 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
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:
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jul-2026 at 05:54:58.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.