Paxton's Tower

Summary

The structure was probably begun in 1808 and completed around 1811 by Sir William Paxton, who lived nearby in Middleton Hall, to a design of Samuel Pepys Cockerell. It was intended as a monument to Admiral Lord Nelson and was referred to as Nelson's Tower.

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Description

The structure was probably begun in 1808 and completed around 1811 by Sir William Paxton, who lived nearby in Middleton Hall, to a design of Samuel Pepys Cockerell. It was intended as a monument to Admiral Lord Nelson and was referred to as Nelson's Tower.

The ground plan is triangular with hexagonal towers in each of the three corners. Each of the sides is ca. 14m long, the hexagonal towers being ca. 3.75m in diameter. Above the first floor level these towers continue on cylindrical form, the juncture disguised by jetted battlements in machiolations. The tops of each of the towers also has similar battlements with crenellations and these are repeated along the tops of he walls, joining the towers almost to their full height. Am hexagonal lantern tower sits centrally and rises above the level of the three corner towers. This has round arched windows on each of the six sides (one may be a door - this could not be seen), and these are now partially or completely blocked. The whole is surmounted by a flagpole with lightning conductor. The three sides of the structure have each a pointed arch entrance surmounted by a three light window on two of the side and above each of these are now plain plaques, intended to carry the inscription in Welsh, English and Latin. This has long disappeared but is recorded and illustrated in early sources.

The tower is built of a roughly coursed mortared stone with quions, presumably a kind of granite. There is some sandstone used in the structure as well, though this could have been added during restoration (or it may well have been the original construction medium and the granite added later). An inspection of the interior suggests that the tower once had some kind of living space. However only a floor at first floor level and at roof level now exists and both are recent replacements. This space, presumably the banqueting room has been described by contemporary sources as 'lofty'. Presumably one of the cylindrical towers carried a spiral stair right to the top and the others were floored over at each level., making several small circular rooms with perhaps two rooms on the centre section (or one lofty room). Today an iron spiral stair leads to the first floor level only. Here there is a room with windows on two sides and a shallow fireplace on the third which probably served to heat the 'sumptuous banqueting room' described by Lewis.

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