| Our own Wainfleet College
has often been described as "the jewel of the town" and has always been
the most prominant building since it was erected.As proud as the towns people
are of the building, we are not alone in possesing a monument commisioned by William
of Wayneflete.A near perfect twin tower lies only 15 miles from central London
in the suburbs of Esher (Surrey) Wayneflete Tower as it is known is now a grade
1 listed building and as such comes under the administration of the English Heritage,
but that was not always the case. |
| Sadly much of the property was destroyed in the 19th century and now
only the gatehouse remains, but in its prime it was a very grand building.The
property remained empty for over 100 years although Lady D' Abernon used it as
a garden folly.In 1938 actress Frances Day bought it as a weekend retreat and
it has remained in private ownership to this day.It has never been documented
if our own college had any person of prominance live in it or visit it, but famous
occupants of the Esher Tower include Cardinal Wolsey and Henry IIIV used it as
one of his hunting lodges.Another famous person to own it was Henry Pellam the
politician. | | In exterior looks
it is much the same as the Wainfleet College only perhaps having more elaborate
windows.The interior information is not so readily available as the Department
of the Enviroment have no duristriction over such records in privately owned properties.What
is known is that it still has its original Tudor fireplace, Elizabethan panels
and half its ceiling is decorated in a flamboyant 18th century style.Like our
own tower it has a spiral staircase that was said to have no equal in the country. *
Their is no visits available to the tower although it can be veiwed at a distance
| | | The Waynflete Tower
in Esher |
|
