National Trust

127025

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Description:  The Tower is reputed to have been built by Thomas Broadwood, after 1814. The circular constructed of flint with lime morter with four window openings and one door opening on the eastern side. An overhanging castelated structure surrounds the top. There may have been a spiral staircase inside by which the top could be reached as indicated by the remains of fittings in the internal walls.
Bannister 1997
General Description
Two storey cylindrical tower folly constructed of flint located on the north western tip of Lodge Hill overlooking Juniper Hall and Park to the north side and Box Hill to the south.
Internal Description
Originally the building was accessed through a door in the NE quadrant which is now blocked. This was at the base of an internal flight of steps that turned up the inside face of the cylinder of the tower. The steps gave access to the first and second / parapet floor levels - now all removed. It is likely that these floors and staircase were of timber and have rotted away. Now all that remains internally is the wall plaster in various states of repair and this is open to the elements. There is also a tree (of app 50 years age) growing from the ground in the centre of the tower to the top of the tower where it rests on the parapet in the NW quadrant. This tree should be removed to prevent further damage to the structure particularly in windy conditions.

External Description
The tower is entirely made of flint with the exception of the cornice set on flint brackets, which is of sandstone (perhaps from Horsham). The flint rubble of the cylinder of the tower is well coursed.
The ground floor level had a doorway in the NE quadrant - now blocked except for a round hole approximately 40cm diameter at the top left hand side which needs patching.
The SW quadrant has a small inspection window - presumably of modern origin to allow inspection of the interior after the doorway was blocked.
There is a long infilled hole on the ground floor on the north side which has a hole at the top - presumably where the previous infilling has fallen out. This hole should be patched.
The first floor level has a large full length window opening to the south and a slightly narrower full length window to the north. There are two small half length windows to the east and west sides.
Heavy brackets made of flint supporting a cornice of tabular stone (sandstone?) support the parapet.
External Buildings
None
Landscape Impact
The tower is faintly visible from a distance although the distant views have been reduced by adjacent tree growth. It is as important landmark for people walking on the public footpath that passes at it's base.
Historical Analysis
The Tower is reputed to have been constructed by Thomas Broadwood c.1814. Thomas Broadwood purchased Juniper Hall in 1814 after the death of Jonathon Worrel in the same year. The presence of the large window facing south and the study of maps of the vicinity suggest that the main view was to the south, the smaller window to the north suggests that this was a less important view (towards Juniper Hall) as indicated on the 1849 map1.
Management Suggestions
This is an important landscape element and should be conserved, as well as being an interesting folly which charts the history of the landscape of Juniper Hall as an ornamental landscape. The building is in need of some repair work to the long hole below the north window and the hole above the blocked door.
The top of the wall of the tower needs to be consolidated and prevented from water penetration. Preferably the structure should be roofed to prevent water penetrating the interior of the walls. Water penetration of this lime mortar structure will seriously endanger is structural integrity.
The tree inside the tower is of no botanical interest and is only a minimal picturesque appeal. The tree will be causing damage at present in its root structure and at the top of the tower where it touches the parapet It should therefore be removed to prevent further damage.
The hole on the north side of the tower below the window should be repaired

Plans, drawings and maps
No plans found for this building.
Figure 1 - The Tower as shown on the 1849 Map of the Parish of Mickelham - Shewing the Property of Miss Frances Beardmore
1 Map of the Parish of Mickelham dated 1849 - Shewi ng the Property of Miss Frances Beardmore - Field Studies Council - Juniper Hall.
Southern Region VBS - Building code - BX B07

Country:  England

County:  Surrey

District:  Mole Valley

Parish:  Mickleham

Grid Reference:   TQ176523

Map Reference:  [EPSG:27700] 517660, 152300

Period/Subject:  1814 - 1900 - FOLLY

Identifiers: 
[ADS] Depositor Id: 127025
[ADS] Associated Id: HBSMR Id: MNA126581
[ADS] Import RCN: NTSMR-MNA126581

People Involved: 
[Publisher] National Trust