Hidden in the trees in Norwich is this tower. As part of the Pinebanks complex (formerly the Norwich Union Sports and Social Club), it was built c. 1880 as a place to contemplate chess problems. The tower has a room on each floor with a spiral stair case on the eastern side.
This explore was certainly a blast from the past from my childhood having (as all in Norwich) had family work for Norwich Union (now Aviva) and spent many a happy time at the social club. Although not hugely interesting on the inside, the building is unique, it is pointless and was probably designed by a mad man, for a chess enthusiast and climbed once by the Queen of Hawaii!
Taylor's Folly
The stairwell on the eastern side
An inscription. It reads "He has gained every point who has combined the useful and the agreeable" from Horace. This may have something to do with the original use of the tower, which was constructed for John Odin Howard Taylor, a Norwich lawyer and a keen chess player. It is written this tower was constructed for him to contemplate chess moves.
This inscription suggests that a former Hawaiian Queen ascended the tower. I found this hard to believe, but apparently around the tower's construction, Hawaii was a kingdom.
Is it locked?
Spiral staircase, very narrow indeed!
The bottom floor is only accessible through a different door on the other side of the folly and used to store garden furniture
First Floor: Obviously done up recently, notice the hatch which is mirrored on all floors to allow stuff to be hoisted up and down levels
Second Floor: A really interesting boarded up window, cramped and hard to get a good angle for a pic
Spiral Staircase: Is this up or down though? You decide!
Third Floor: With 3 windows
Fourth Floor Annex: I can imagine a chair in here for some reason
View from the Fourth Floor Annex
View of the Fourth Floor from the Annex
Dead Woodpecker: Awwww, poor Woody!
Couldn't go any higher as a bird had made it's house on it! Probably the woodpecker
View of Pinebanks from the upper door. Actually it's boarded up.
This is the roof where the owner allegedly played chess. Very windy!
Top of the tower. Not sure if you can get to the top, the bird's nest was in the way
Down this time
View up the western side of the tower from the door that accesses the bottom floor
So that's it, hope you like this empty, but somewhat bizarre building
This explore was certainly a blast from the past from my childhood having (as all in Norwich) had family work for Norwich Union (now Aviva) and spent many a happy time at the social club. Although not hugely interesting on the inside, the building is unique, it is pointless and was probably designed by a mad man, for a chess enthusiast and climbed once by the Queen of Hawaii!
Taylor's Folly
The stairwell on the eastern side
An inscription. It reads "He has gained every point who has combined the useful and the agreeable" from Horace. This may have something to do with the original use of the tower, which was constructed for John Odin Howard Taylor, a Norwich lawyer and a keen chess player. It is written this tower was constructed for him to contemplate chess moves.
This inscription suggests that a former Hawaiian Queen ascended the tower. I found this hard to believe, but apparently around the tower's construction, Hawaii was a kingdom.
Is it locked?
Spiral staircase, very narrow indeed!
The bottom floor is only accessible through a different door on the other side of the folly and used to store garden furniture
First Floor: Obviously done up recently, notice the hatch which is mirrored on all floors to allow stuff to be hoisted up and down levels
Second Floor: A really interesting boarded up window, cramped and hard to get a good angle for a pic
Spiral Staircase: Is this up or down though? You decide!
Third Floor: With 3 windows
Fourth Floor Annex: I can imagine a chair in here for some reason
View from the Fourth Floor Annex
View of the Fourth Floor from the Annex
Dead Woodpecker: Awwww, poor Woody!
Couldn't go any higher as a bird had made it's house on it! Probably the woodpecker
View of Pinebanks from the upper door. Actually it's boarded up.
This is the roof where the owner allegedly played chess. Very windy!
Top of the tower. Not sure if you can get to the top, the bird's nest was in the way
Down this time
View up the western side of the tower from the door that accesses the bottom floor
So that's it, hope you like this empty, but somewhat bizarre building