Belvedere Tower to Summerhill Park (Blaine's Folly)
BELVEDERE TOWER TO SUMMERHILL PARK (BLAINE'S FOLLY), COLLEGE ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1394944
- Date first listed:
- 15-May-1997
- List Entry Name:
- Belvedere Tower to Summerhill Park (Blaine's Folly)
- Statutory Address:
- BELVEDERE TOWER TO SUMMERHILL PARK (BLAINE'S FOLLY), COLLEGE ROAD
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1394944
- Date first listed:
- 15-May-1997
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 15-Oct-2010
- List Entry Name:
- Belvedere Tower to Summerhill Park (Blaine's Folly)
- Statutory Address 1:
- BELVEDERE TOWER TO SUMMERHILL PARK (BLAINE'S FOLLY), COLLEGE ROAD
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:
- BELVEDERE TOWER TO SUMMERHILL PARK (BLAINE'S FOLLY), COLLEGE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 74064 66585
Details
COLLEGE ROAD (South West side) Belvedere tower to Summerhill Park (Blaine's Folly) (formerly listed as Blaine's Tower in the grounds of Kingswood School, Summerhill Park) 15.05.97 II
Belvedere tower. c1870. Possibly by Hickes and Isaac, architects of Bath. MATERIALS: Limestone ashlar and rock faced rubble, roof not visible. Tall Italianate prospect tower, consisting of a square shaft with slight taper in ashlar above battered rubble base; blocked doorway with small flat hood on corbel brackets, slit windows for circular stair. Belvedere top storey with three-light arcaded window to each face. Originally with plain sash windows, but almost all plate glass has now gone. Corbelled parapet with turned balusters above, partly damaged and missing. INTERIOR: Not inspected. HISTORY: This tower, one of the many belvederes in the Bath area, is known as Blaine's Folly. It was built by Sir Robert Blaine (M.P. for Bath 1883-1886) after he bought Summerhill Park in 1868. The architects Hickes and Isaac of 40 Gay Street are known to have carried out works for Blaine in c1870 (re building control records) and may have designed this structure too. Blaine was known as a philanthropist, and it is thought that this building was constructed to provide employment. There is a suggestion that this was also a water tower but there is no physical evidence available for this use. Sale particulars for the estate in c1900 describe the structure as 'a lofty stone tower, about 120ft high, containing two rooms, from which are obtained splendid views of the City of Bath and the charming surrounding country; the summit is easily reached by a graduated incline'. A late example of a Picturesque prospect tower, and an interesting echo of the much more celebrated Lansdown Tower. SOURCES: [Information from Michael Bishop, Kingswood School archivist].
Listing NGR: ST7406466585
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 510360
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 26-Jun-2026 at 22:38:10.
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