Faringdon Hill (also
known as Folly Hill and Cromwell's battery) is East of the town, overlooking
the old roads to Oxford and Stanford in the Vale. It's top is flattened and
almost circular, with a clear view to the North across the Thames Valley, and
southwards to the Berkshire Downs. Views over Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire,
Wiltshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire can be seen on a clear day.
It is 447
feet above sea level
In 1144 a fortified castle was built, by Robert
Earl of Gloucester, to support his aunt, Matilda (countess of Anjou and
legitimate heir to Henry II), in her campaign to depose King Stephen, the King
of England(1135-1144) and grandson of William the Conqueror.
At the Battle
of Faringdon in 1145 Stephen defeated Matilda and in 1153 Stephen acknowledged
Matilda's son, Henry II, as his own heir.
Short account in Berkshire History
In 1645 it was
fortified again by Oliver Cromwell failed in his attack on the Royalists at
Faringdon House.
During the World
War II soldiers from The Royal Artillery camp at Shrivenham made use of the
Folly for exercises with wireless sets in conjunction with their pillbox below,
beside the crest of London Road. The tower was also an observation post for the
homeguard.
The woodland covers about 4 acres.
The outer ring of
trees are Scots Pine with broadleaf trees forming an inner ring. Some of the
Scots Pine are thought to be over 200 years old and more than 20m in height and
some of the finest in England.
The summit was planted with Scots Pine
by Henry
James Pye , in about 1780, about the time he built the present Faringdon
House. He also created the circular path and provided seats. Henry James Pye
was dubbed 'the worst ever poet laureate' He was so bad that his peers
lampooned him in 'Sing a Song of sixpence'
More information, photos
and history about the Tower and the woodland can be found on the
Faringdon Folly website
More
detailed History (26kb) by Geoffrey Williams
|
South West
Oxfordshire
"Within three minutes' walk of the town, is Faringdon
Hill, well known for its extensive view over the surrounding country; it rises
gradually from the vale of White Horse, the whole of which it commands, as well
as a rich and varied prospect of parts of five counties, viz Berkshire,
Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Buckinghamshire.
There are
many single points of view, which equal, or perhaps surpass, that to be seen
from this place, but when a circuit is made of its summit, and new beauties are
found at every step, it cannot fail to be pronounced the finest circular view
in the kingdom,"
Extract from Pigot & Co's Directory of 1824
Faringdon Hill.
Here lofty mountains lift their azure heads,
There its green lap
the grassy meadows spread,
Enclosures here the sylvan scene divide,
There plains extended spread their harvests wide.
Henry James Pye.
1774
Extract from an 81 page poem!! |
