{{Short description|Tower in Cranmore, Somerset, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox Historic building |image=Cranmore Tower.jpg |caption= |name=Cranmore Tower |location_town=Cranmore, Somerset |location_country=England |pushpin_map=Somerset |coordinates = {{coord|51.2026|-2.4662|display=inline,title}} |architect=Henry Goodridge |client=John Moore Paget |engineer=William Witcombe |construction_start_date=1862 |completion_date=1864 |demolished_date= |cost= |structural_system= |architectural_style= |size={{convert|45|m|ft|0}} }} The '''Cranmore Tower''' is a {{convert|45|m|ft|0}} tall 19th century folly in the parish of Cranmore, Somerset, England.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cranmore Tower|url=http://www.cranmoretower.co.uk/|publisher=Cranmore Tower|access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> The site is {{convert|280|m|ft|0}} above sea level, and is the highest point on the Mendip Way.
The tower was built in 1862-1864, by Thomas Henry Wyatt for John Moore Paget of Cranmore Hall (now part of All Hallows Preparatory School). There is a viewing area at the top with pair of semi-circular headed openings to each face with a restored iron-railed balcony beneath each pair. A similar balcony just over halfway up is continued right round the tower. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II listed building.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1216763 |title=Cranmore Tower |access-date=2008-03-25 | publisher= historicengland.org.uk }}</ref>
In World War II it was used as a lookout tower by the Home Guard and the Royal Corps of Signals.<ref name="holt">{{cite book |title=Somerset Follies |last=Holt |first=Jonathan |year=2007 |publisher=Akeman Press |location=Bath |isbn=978-0-9546138-7-7 |pages=72 }}</ref>
By 1984 the tower had fallen into disrepair and was sold to Donald Beaton who undertook repairs. During the course of the repairs the remains of a Roman fort with a hoard of coins was discovered adjacent to the tower. In 1988 it was sold again, this time to Nick Ridge who opened it to the public.<ref name="holt"/> The tower was then acquired by followers of the Baháʼí Faith. Further restorations were carried out, including the installation of a new timber staircase to allow access to the balconies at the top of the tower at a height of {{convert|320|m|ft|0}} above sea level. From early 2008 the tower was open to the public, in particular being marketed as a romantic setting for proposals of marriage. The tower and its grounds are is now privately owned and visitors are no longer permitted.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
==References==
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Category:Grade II listed buildings in Mendip District Category:Folly towers in England Category:Towers in Somerset Category:Observation towers in the United Kingdom Category:Towers completed in 1864 Category:Listed towers in the United Kingdom Category:1864 establishments in England