Old John Tower, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire

            Old John is the highest hill in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, on the southern edge of Charnwood Forest. It gives its name to the folly that stands at its top. The hill rises to 212 metres (696 ft) high, and is a prominent landmark across Leicester and Leicestershire. The earliest recorded use of the name is on a map of 1754, which records a windmill on the site. 

The tower itself began life as a ruined folly, built in 1784, during the time of George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford. He got Thomas Sketchley of Anstey to build him the mock ruin, which had strong similarities to Mow Cop, Staffordshire. It was adapted in the mid-19th century by the seventh Earl to serve as an observation tower for the practice circuit he laid out for his horses, along with the building of a stable block lower down the hill. 

The tower is well known for its "mug-shape" — there was a longer section of wall adjoining the tower after the 19th century extension but this reduced in size over the years leaving the present 'handle' shape. The mug shape has given rise to false accounts of the tower's origins supposedly relating to a beer-loving miller who was killed after being hit by a pole during a bonfire.

In the past it has also been used as a meeting place for hunters with their fox hounds, and a luncheon house for shooting parties in the park, prior to the park being donated for public use in 1928.

Taken on: July 7, 2024

Sets appears in: • Bradgate Park

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Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ70, f/3.5, 1/500 sec, 5.4mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DMC-TZ70
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	5.4mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Landscape
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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