Andrew Monkhouse
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 02:18 |
FOLLY discovered on old map between Malsis School and Low Jack Field. What was it?
An old map of Sutton dating back to 1840 shows an intriguing feature on the hillside overlooking the Malsis Hall/Glusburn bridge area referred to as a Folly.
This was brought to my attention by Sutton historian Robin Longbottom. I have to confess that I wasn't sure what a 'folly' is! Having since checked it out it would appear to be a “a whimsical or extravagant and often useless structure built to serve as a conversation piece, lend interest to a view, etc.”
Is anyone able to shed any light on the ‘Folly of Sutton’? As the webmaster points out, it must have been a significant structure to warrant inclusion on the map. |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 07:44 |
The Folly stood within a small plantation on the edge of a field just to the south of High Malsis. The site can be seen on Google Earth, a recently ploughed field with a substantial angular indentation in the the southern boundary wall, indicates where the folly once stood. The land formed part of the Malsis Hall Estate and the Folly was probably built during the period of 18th Century Romanticism. It may have been an eccentric shelter or a tower to provide a view point over the estate. It would have been somewhere for a gentleman to walk with the ladies of the Hall on sunny days. The Folly is shown on the 1840 Tithe Map, the fact that the field to the south of it is called Folly Field indicates that it was of some antiquity and had been there so long that the field had been named after it. Perhaps James Lund pulled it down having found a better site for a folly and view point at Earls Crag. |
Paul Wilkinson
webmaster
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 08:26 |
Robin's 1840 tithe map showing the location of the folly...
1853 OS map...
|
Keith King
Scholes CLECKHEATON
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 09:42 |
Looking at the old-maps.co.uk website the folly is shown on the 1853 map with only the trees remaining on the maps upto the 1963 edition. |
Robin Longbottom
Oakworth
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 11:27 |
Ayup Keith. Bit since we were kicking a tin can around Low Fold. Are you still sparking? What happened to all your grandad's photos? He should have had some good ones of Sutton. Do you know if any family might have a photo of his brother John who was killed in WW1? |
Keith King
Scholes CLECKHEATON
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 21:46 |
Narthen Robin -I recall a photograph of great uncle John in his uniform when we were living with Grandad at Low Fold. I will ask the family about it and I hope to obtain many more of Grandad's collection this Easter. Ask the webmaster for my email and I will bring you up to date.
Appologies to Andrew in Adelaide for using his folly site for this communication but as Robin said it has been a long time since kicking that can at Low Fold. |
