Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Freston Tower
Hob Uid: 387951
Location : Suffolk Babergh Freston
Grid Ref : TM1779639663
Summary : Freston Tower, a look-out tower or folly and now holiday accommodation, was built in 1578 by Thomas Gooding, a wealthy merchant from Ispwich. Built from orange brick with blue brick diapering, the tower is six storeys high with a polygonal staircase turret and angle buttresses with pinnacles. The tower has three light mullion windows, of which there are no less than twenty-six in total. The original function of the tower is uncertain. Some believe it may have been used by Gooding as a lookout tower to view his returning ships, however its also possible the tower was built simply as an extravagant folly, coinciding with Queen Elizabeth's visit to Ipswich in 1579. In 2000 Freston Tower was acquired by the Landmark Trust who restored the building and opened it in May 2004 as holiday accommodation.
More information : [TM 17803961]. FRESTON TOWER [LB]. (1) Freston Tower is a very tall Elizabethan structure, apparently built as a caprice to obtain a view over the Orwell. (2) Freston Tower: a square red brick-built tower of six storeys with small corner turrets and on the NE side an octagonal stair turret of seven storeys giving access to the parapetted flat roof. In good condition, though some of the windows have been blocked up. G.P. AO 65/255/6-7. (3) Freston Tower is Grade II* listed and was built as a look-out tower. Built from orange brick with blue brick diapering, the tower is six storeys high with a polygonal staircase turret and angle buttresses with pinnacles. The tower has three light mullion windows. (4) Freston Tower, now holiday accommodation, was built in 1578 by Thomas Gooding, a wealthy merchant from Ispwich. It has twenty-six windows in total. Some believe the tower may have been used by Gooding as a lookout tower to see his returning ships but it is also possible that it may have simply been built as an extravagant folly, coinciding with Queen Elizabeth's visit to Ipswich in 1579. In 2000 Freston Tower was acquired by the Landmark Trust who restored the building and opened it in May 2004 as holiday accommodation. (5)

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Source details : OS 6" NSL.
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F1 ASP 02-MAR-66
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : DOE(HHR) Samford RD Suffolk July 1950
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : Landmark Trust. 2009. New Landmarks: Freston Tower, [accessed 15-JUL-2009]
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Elizabethan
Display Date : Built 1578
Monument End Date : 1578
Monument Start Date : 1578
Monument Type : Tower, Folly
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 21st Century
Display Date : Acquired and restored 2000-2004
Monument End Date : 2004
Monument Start Date : 2000
Monument Type : Folly, Tower, House
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : SMR Number (Suffolk)
External Cross Reference Number : FRT030
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 277290
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TM 13 NE 4
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1966-03-02
End Date : 1966-03-02

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2001-01-01
End Date : 2001-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 2002-01-01
End Date : 2002-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2003-01-01
End Date : 2003-12-31