{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use British English|date=May 2018}} {{Infobox historic site | name = | native_name = | native_language = | image = Luttrell's Tower from the beach.JPG | caption = Luttrell's Tower from the beach | type = Folly | locmapin = Hampshire | coordinates = {{coord|50.8060|-1.3246|region:GB-HAM_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | gbgridref = SU 47690 00930 | location = Fawley | area = Hampshire | built = 1780 | architect = Thomas Sandby | architecture = | governing_body = | owner = Landmark Trust | designation1 = Grade II* | designation1_offname = Luttrell's Tower | designation1_date = 8 October 1959 | designation1_number = {{listed building England|1094367}} | designation2 = Grade II | designation2_offname = 3 flights of steps and gateway south east of Luttrell's Tower | designation2_date = 10 Jun 1987 | designation2_number = {{listed building England|1178697}} | designation3 = | designation3_offname = | designation3_date = | designation3_number = | designation4 = | designation4_offname = | designation4_date = | designation4_number = | designation5 = | designation5_offname = | designation5_date = | designation5_number = }}
'''Luttrell's Tower''' is a three-storey stuccoed yellow brick folly south of Southampton, Hampshire, England, near the village of Calshot. It has a six-storey circular stair turret extending above the rest. It stands on the shore of the Solent, close to the grounds of Eaglehurst House. It is owned by the Landmark Trust.
==History== The tower was built circa 1780 for Temple Simon Luttrell<ref name="NHLE">{{NHLE|grade=II|desc=Luttrell's Tower|num=1094367|date=8 October 1959}}</ref> by Thomas Sandby, who was a founder member and first Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy.<ref name="landmarktrust">{{cite web | title = The LandMark Trust | url=https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/luttrells-tower-11322/?ZJjYEWg8T5Uilneb2kJmmS/wLBbpScPDKpyS+B+nEIf1tXA8VuzUDS2P9Ja7CHLnPWnBQ+8bgeqRhERm65RP2h2YMelp3V6SMU83c92IHh1JeYXZmu+HuDZWRKEw9KNlBr+HaMusHPF+JewRODiRESP2wO7ldYZnzKfw8m3ijzE= | accessdate = 2011-02-02 }} </ref> Temple Luttrell was a Member of Parliament who was allegedly involved in smuggling on the south coast (though no firm evidence of this exists).<ref name="landmarktrust"/> The tower's lookout, extending above the height of the main building, would have afforded a commanding view of the activities of the customs men in the area, both out to sea and inland.<ref name="landmarktrust" /> A tunnel running from an entrance just above the beach straight into the cellar of the tower would have made transferring contraband from the Isle of Wight a low risk operation. It is possible that the tunnel predates the tower.<ref name=murley19>{{cite book |last=Murley |first=Clare |last2=Murley |first2=Fred|date=1991 |title=Waterside, a Pictorial Past: Calshot, Fawley, Hythe and Marchwood |publisher=Ensign Publications |page=19 |isbn=1854550683}}</ref> Once the goods were on the mainland, the proximity of Southampton would have made distribution expeditious. In the early 19th century the tower was sold to Richard Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan.<ref name=murley19 /> The earl set up tents around the base of the tower and lived in it for a while.<ref name=murley19 /> Finding the tower too small he later built Eaglehurst House slightly further inland.<ref name=murley19 /> Documentation in the tower suggests there may have been tunnels from the base of the tower into the cellars of Eaglehurst House; if so they are now blocked up. thumb|right|Luttrell's Tower from the south side, May 2006.
Marconi used the tower for his wireless experiments of 1912.<ref name="landmarktrust" /> He rented Eaglehurst House and the tower between 1911 and 1916, and used the top of the tower for his transmissions.<ref>Degna Marconi ''My Father Marconi'' (1962).</ref> His youngest daughter, Gioia, was christened at Fawley Church in 1916.<ref>Clare and Fred Murley ''Waterside'' (1991).</ref> Steps down to the beach were added in 1927 to a design by Clough Williams-Ellis.<ref name=Bailey244>{{cite book |last1=O’Brien |first1=Charles|last2=Bailey |first2=Bruce|last3=Pevsner |first3=Nikolaus |last4=Lloyd |first4=David W. |date=2018 |title=The Buildings of England Hampshire: South |publisher=Yale University Press |pages=244–245|isbn=9780300225037}}</ref>
During World War 2 the tower was taken over by the military who fitted steel shutters over the windows.<ref name=murley20>{{cite book |last=Murley |first=Clare |last2=Murley |first2=Fred|date=1991 |title=Waterside, a Pictorial Past: Calshot, Fawley, Hythe and Marchwood |publisher=Ensign Publications |page=20 |isbn=1854550683}}</ref> After the war the tower along with the house was purchased by Valder Gates who had the wartime damage the buildings had suffered repaired.<ref name=murley20 />
==Modern use== The tower became a Grade: II* Listed building on 8 October 1959.<ref name="NHLE" /> Since 1968 it has been owned by the Landmark Trust, a charity that rescues and restores historical buildings. It is now let as a holiday home.<ref name="landmarktrust" />
==References== <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref> and </ref> tags and the tag below --> {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}}
Category:Folly towers in England Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Hampshire Category:Landmark Trust properties in England Category:Towers in Hampshire Category:Towers completed in 1780 Category:1780 establishments in England Category:Tower houses in England Category:Brick buildings and structures in the United Kingdom