Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England The Faringdon F.U.N. and Folly Tower
AO Edited

The Faringdon F.U.N. and Folly Tower

The eccentricities of a former lord include painted pigeons of his manor house, a series of pointless plaques, and a folly built simply to peeve the public.

Faringdon, England

Added By
AdOYo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Top of the Faringdon Folly Tower   John Ireland / CC BY-SA 2.0
Faringdon Folly Tower   Charlie / CC BY 2.0
Please do not feed the giraffes.   Charlie / CC BY 2.0
  AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
The Troll of the Folly Hill sculpture trail   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
The squirrel of the Folly Hill woods trail   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
An example of a F.U.N   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
An example of a F.U.N   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
An example of a F.U.N   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
An example of a F.U.N   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
The Folly   Gareth James
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Around Faringdon’s market square is a somewhat quirky array of signs: the Frivolously Unnecessary Notices, or F.U.N.

Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 14th Baron Berners, or simply Lord Berners, of Faringdon House ordered the installation of these 12 pointless signs around Farringdon’s marketplace in 1935. Each bears a unique and novel message such as "Children left unattended will be sold to the circus," and "Entrance to Secret Bunker." Though the signs deteriorated and disappeared over the years, they have since been restored and visitors are invited to find them all.

Visitors may also spot the famous dyed pigeons of Faringdon perched, suspiciously still, on a few Faringdon window sills. The practice of dyeing pigeons bright colors was another trivial idea of Lord Berners that continues to this day at Faringdon House.

Perhaps Berners’ most dominant legacy in Faringdon however is the Faringdon Folly Tower, which stands 140 feet tall atop Folly Hill. The location is steeped in historical significance, from King Alfred’s 10th-century castle to a fortification used by Matilda during the Anarchy, and another used during the Civil War by Oliver Cromwell, who sought to take over Faringdon House.

The story goes that while walking on the hill, Lord Berners jokingly mentioned to his companion, Robert Heber-Percy, that "this hill needs a tower." This lighthearted comment led to much local dismay and complaints. Upon discovering the unrest his passing comment had caused, Berners fixed upon the idea, and stating that "the great point of the tower is that it will be entirely useless," he commissioned Lord Gerald Wellesley to build it. It was not only his neighbors that Berners wished to tease, however, for knowing Wellesley’s disdain for Gothic architecture, it is in this style that Berner requested his folly. In response, while Berners was away, Wellesley built the tower in his own preferred Classical style. Berners returned home to most of the tower already built, but insisted that the last 10 feet be done in his requested Gothic style. This resulted in the juxtaposed clash of two styles.

These days, the folly and its surrounding pine woodland are admired by locals and visitors alike, who can climb the hill and view the tower and its surrounding pine woodland. The curious character of Berners is honored with many sculptures throughout the small woodland, including a fairy door, a troll, a wooden cannon commemorating the hills' role in the Civil War, and perhaps most appropriately, a giraffe poking its head from a pine tree and an accompanying F.U.N nearby instructing visitors, "Please do not feed the giraffes."

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Towers Follies

Know Before You Go

These map coordinates are for Folly Hill, Tower, and woodland. Parking is limited nearby, but town center parking is only a 15-minute walk away.

In the town center, you will find the F.U.Ns and a free F.U.N trail pamphlet is available from the Tourist Information Centre. An online version can be found here.

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

August 23, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Faringdon F.U.N. and Folly Tower
Folly Path
Faringdon, England, SN7 7AQ
United Kingdom
51.658873, -1.571443
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kelmscott Manor

Kelmscott, England

miles away

Britain's Secret Underground Bunkers

Swindon, England

miles away

Uffington White Horse

Oxfordshire, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,219
Stories 145

Nearby Places

Kelmscott Manor

Kelmscott, England

miles away

Britain's Secret Underground Bunkers

Swindon, England

miles away

Uffington White Horse

Oxfordshire, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,219
Stories 145

Related Places

  • The elaborate top of the tower.

    Halifax, England

    Wainhouse Tower

    This tallest folly in the world began its life as an elaborate factory chimney.

  • The Spire of Lloyd, Kells, County Meath.

    Kells, Ireland

    Spire of Lloyd

    “Ireland’s only inland lighthouse” is not actually a lighthouse at all.

  • What appears to be an ancient Greek ruin is, in fact, a colossal mess.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    National Monument of Scotland

    A never-finished memorial to the heroes of the Napoleonic War has become "Scotland's Folly."

  • Philosopher’s Tower

    Wimborne Saint Giles, England

    Philosopher's Tower

    A small tower where a philosopher once speculated on human nature and morality.

  • This 30-foot tall brick tower is occupied by a flock of Swiss goats.

    Windsor, Illinois

    Tower of Baa-Goat

    A 30-foot-tall goat tower in central Illinois is home to a herd of Swiss ungulates.

  • The former Wyoming National Bank buildings, known locally as “the onion” and “the egg beater.”

    Casper, Wyoming

    The 'M' Building and Tower

    Locally known as the "Onion” and the "Egg Beater,” Casper’s most recognizable buildings are beloved local landmarks to many, and eyesores to others.

  • Peavey–Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator

    St. Louis Park, Minnesota

    Peavey-Haglin Experimental Concrete Grain Elevator

    This unassuimng grain elevator, commonly confused for a smokestack, helped inspire the modern architecture movement.

  • Inside one of the massive chambers

    Bristol, England

    Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults

    Cathedral-like Victorian vaults are hidden within this iconic bridge.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.