Luttrell's Tower
| Luttrell's Tower | |
|
Landmark Trust | |
|---|---|
 Luttrell's Tower from the beach | |
| Grid reference: | SU47690093 |
| Location: | 50°48’22"N, 1°19’29"W |
| Built 1780 | |
| Information | |
Luttrell's Tower is a three-storey stuccoed yellow Georgian brick folly south of Southampton in Hampshire, near the village of Calshot, standing on the shore of the Solent, close to the grounds of Eaglehurst House. It is owned by the Landmark Trust.
The tower has a six-storey circular stair turret extending above the rest. It . National Heritage List 1094367: Luttrell's Tower (Grade II* listing)
History
The tower was built circa 1780 for Temple Simon Luttrell[1] by Thomas Sandby, who was a founder member and first Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy.[2]
Temple Luttrell was a Member of Parliament who was allegedly involved in smuggling on the south coast (though no firm evidence of this exists).[2] 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.[2] 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 predate the tower.[3] 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.[3] The earl set up tents around the base of the tower and lived in it for a while.[3] Finding the tower too small he later built Eaglehurst House slightly further inland.[3] 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.
Guglielmo Marconi used the tower for his wireless experiments of 1912.[2] He rented Eaglehurst House and the tower between 1911 and 1916, and used the top of the tower for his transmissions.[4] His youngest daughter, Gioia, was christened at Fawley Church in 1916.[5]
During the Second World War, the tower was taken over by the military who fitted steel shutters over the windows.[6] After the War the tower along with the house was purchased by Valder Gates who had the wartime damage the buildings had suffered repaired.[6]
Since 1968, Luttrell’s Tower has been owned by the Landmark Trust, a charity that rescues and restores historical buildings. It is now let as a holiday home.[2]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Luttrell's Tower) |
- National Heritage List 1094367: Luttrell’s Tower (Grade II* listing)
- National Heritage List 1178697: 3 flights of steps and gateway south-east of Luttrell's Tower (Grade II listing)
- Marconi at Luttrell's Tower
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1094367: Luttrell's Tower (Grade II* listing)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Landmark Trust: Luttrell’s Tower
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Murley, Clare; Murley, Fred (1991). Waterside, a Pictorial Past: Calshot, Fawley, Hythe and Marchwood. Ensign Publications. p. 19. ISBN 1854550683.
- ↑ Degna Marconi My Father Marconi (1962).
- ↑ Clare and Fred Murley Waterside (1991).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Murley, Clare; Murley, Fred (1991). Waterside, a Pictorial Past: Calshot, Fawley, Hythe and Marchwood. Ensign Publications. p. 20. ISBN 1854550683.