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© Courtesy of Annette Gorton |
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The heights of Broadway |
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The hexagonal tower was built as a building of extravagance, a folly. It has three turrets, four storeys with the main room on the third.
The large arched openings in the room lead to balconies from which the extensive views could be enjoyed from one of the highest points in the Cotswolds.
There are varied reports as to the number of counties which can be seen, from 12 to as many as 15!
The site on which the tower was built is believed to be an ancient beacon hill. These hills were used in Roman times to aid the planning of their road networks. With no maps or compasses, Roman surveyors lit up beacons at the top of hills and used simple surveying techniques to map a straight line, and mark the road.
© Courtesy of Annette Gorton
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Many years later these hills were used as signalling points, particularly for warning signals, and national celebrations, in a way similar to Native American smoke signals.
Piles of brush would be left on beacon hills, ready for ignition once others were ablaze. Once lit, the beacons would light up very quickly all over the country. However, whether people knew the nature of the emergency is a separate matter.
In the last century, locals have lit beacons on this location commemorate the end of World War II and to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
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