Can you imagine being rich enough to build a grand or whimsical building just because you wanted to, with no real purpose? There are a lot of follies in the Yorkshire Dales: those in Hackfall woods, Druids' Temple, Polly Peacham's Tower, the Pepperpot and other follies at West Burton. Culloden Tower is one of the most substantial follies, a well known landmark, standing proud in a field on the edge of Richmond.
Overlooking the River Swale, this was once the country estate of John Yorke MP. Culloden Tower was built as a folly in around 1746. The architect was probably Daniell Garrett, who was very fond of the Palladian style of architecture. Garrett was known for his design of Rococo plasterwork.
The name of the tower refers to the victory of the Duke of Cumberland over Bonnie Prince Charlie at the battle of Culloden in 1746.
Culloden Tower has four storeys and a roof terrace. Its rectangular base may have been part of an earlier peel tower, a small fortified keep built as a watch tower and to deter marauding Scots and partly as a status symbol.
Standing isolated in the field, Culloden Tower fell into disrepair until the Landmark Trust took it over in 1981 and restored it. It's now available through the Landmark Trust as a holiday let. Guests describe it as being like "staying in a large Wedgewood vase" thanks to the carving and plasterwork inside. After climbing 66 stairs you're rewarded with unusual octagonal rooms and wonderful views.
You can't normally see inside the tower unless you pay to stay there but you can occasionally visit as part of an open day.