Capturing Doncaster's follies

folly /ˈfɒli/ noun - a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park (Oxford Dictionary)

18th and 19th century English estates would often feature temples, towers, summer houses and various other structures. These purposeless purpose-built ornaments were often eccentric and were built for pleasure, or perhaps to show off.

Many will have heard of or seen the impressive Wentworth follies near Rotherham, but how many know of Doncaster's own? Their locations form a crescent running from High Melton through to Barnburgh, Hickleton, Bilham and Brodsworth.

High Melton

Built in c1757, Melton Hall and its estate is now owned by Doncaster College's University Centre and features two follies. My reference guide Fabulous Follies by Ray Blyth refers to these as 'Grotto' and 'Icehouse'.

The grotto is thought to have been either a fernery, an aquarium or a greenhouse. It was found severely overgrown though the iron handrails over two bridges were still intact. A tree was growing in the centre and it was hard to see the floors from the internal bridges.

The inside - a bridge with handrail crosses the former pool below

The ice house is built into a gradient in the woods. Inside is a fairly deep (perhaps 15ft) pit which would have ensured a cool temperature for keeping food before the invention of refrigeration.

Barnburgh

The only remaining structure of Barnburgh Hall (demolished in 1969 by the National Coal Board for reasons of subsidence) is this 15th century octagonal dovecote, the village's oldest building. Easy to find on a piece of common land and as its name indicates, was designed to house doves (and possibly still does). 

If you're planning a visit, its worth mentioning the remains of the ancient St. Ellen's Chapel (not a folly) lie in a copse not far from here.

Hickleton

Hickleton's hall, gardens and estate are spectacular. The Hall itself was last owned by Sue Ryder (care homes) but is now in the process of being sold and the estate is owned by Halifax estates on behalf of the Earl of Halifax.

Here are some examples of various statues, plinths and ruins on the estate.

Within the grounds of the hall are two pavilions (one not pictured as not found), a 'classical seat' (not pictured as inaccessible), an ice house (not found), an urn in an attractive hedge arrangement and another headless statue.

Bilham

Looming at the end of a long, thin thicket is Bilham Belvedere, a c1800 summer house which was part of the former Bilham House. Now part of the Brodsworth estate, it can be seen from Hickleton golf course and there is a track leading from the road to its gate.

In the nearby Fish Pond Plantation is a plunge pool, described by Blyth as at least five feet deep.

On the edge of this wood is an arch, noted as 'Bilham Garden Seat' and probably used to be a summer house.

Brodsworth

At Brodsworth Hall there are at least three further follies. Target House (c1860) is a Swiss style summer house with Venetian windows. Another summer house, Doric Temple, built in 1866 looks towards the facade of another building which Blyth calls 'Eyecatcher'.

As the hall is an excellent attraction open to the public I've decided to not include these to not spoil any visit, but here's a link to its website if you're interested in going.