Hurlestone Tower

As follies go, this one is a corker. Sat on top of a rise within the Lilburn Tower park, this modern folly is the Hurlestone Tower.

I first saw this when standing on top of Ros Castle admiring the lovely views over the Northumberland countryside and spied it a few kilometres in the distance. Obviously I immediately Googled it when I got home.

However it's not actually a folly, it's more of an observation point. We know back in the day that follies such as the Gibside Banqueting House were built by the owners as a show of wealth, but the Hurlestone Tower is a much more modern tower, having been built in 2000 to celebrate the new Millennium.

Hurlestone Tower or Hurlstone Tower?

Its name is derived from the nearby medieval Hurl Stone which stands approximately 50m away and both names seem to be interchangeably used for it. One story about how the Hurl Stone got its name was that the Devil was standing on top of The Cheviot, saw St Cuthbert and hurled the stone at him.

The tower has three stories with a kitchen downstairs, a banqueting room on the 1st floor and an observation deck on the roof, all connected by a spiral staircase. It can also be hired out for conferences.

You can just see it peeking out in the distance as we make our way over the park.

A look backwards and you can just make out Lilburn Tower in between the trees.

The tower is part of the Lilburn Tower and on private land, however we asked permission to head up when we were visiting on the open day. You can get a sight of it from the road if you are passing.

Fine views over Ros Castle in the distance too.