I went on a really wonderful walk the other day. The sun was shining. I was all alone. And there was so much history along the way that I am hard pressed to decide which part should be the subject of this piece of writing.
This is Rogers Tower. And it has often been called a folly. The dictionary definition of a folly is “a costly, ornamental building with no practical purpose”. I have to concede that Rogers Tower probably does fulfil that brief. But was Mr Rogers foolish to build a little playhouse here for his family to picnic beside on a sunny day? I would say certainly not!
The tower was built in 1798 by one of the Rogers’ family from Treassowe Manor, a house on Tonkin Downs below the hill on which it stands. It is uncertain which member of the family was responsible. But the most likely candidate would be John Rogers (1750-1832) who it has been said had the money and the inclination to undertake such a plan.
High above Mount’s Bay the tower commands immense views across the countryside in all directions. It is a Folly but it is also wonderful! But there is one downside to this view. The land between the tower and the village of Castle Gate is part of a giant granite quarry. And for more than 100 years machinery has been gobbling up the hill side. (A large explosion went off while I was balanced precariously on the top of the OS trig point taking a picture! I nearly fell backwards into the ferns.)
There is also a downside to where John Rogers decided to build his tower. On the outer ring of the ancient Iron Age hillfort! The hillfort is still impressive and covers the top of the hill but to be fair I doubt he had to get any kind of planning permission. Sadly what is valuable to us now was in many ways just a pile of rocks then.
As I said there is so much history in this small place that I think I will have to return to it again for another walk and post! You have been warned!
Further reading
Zennor Quoit: Take a walk with me
Largin Castle – Iron Age Hillfort
Walking Opportunities:
Nancledra to Castle an dinas walk