A historic tower partly hidden behind trees and bushes on a housing development is due for a revamp, as its owners get ready to open it to the public later this year.
Because of the foliage at this time of year, Bettison’s Folly is concealed from the hustle and bustle of Newbegin in Hornsea, set back on a piece of land on Willows Drive.
It rarely opens its door to visitors, leaving its secrets tightly locked inside until September, when it opens for free as part of a number of Heritage Open Days across East Yorkshire.
It’s a familiar landmark to most locals, but its history is anything but ordinary, particularly given that its current owners acquired it for just one pound.
Around ten years ago, Dave Foster attended a Hornsea Civic Society meeting and purchased it from the previous owner. His friend Mick Bateman then went in on the deal and offered Dave 50p to become co-owner.
All-in, plus legal fees, it cost the pair around £1,500.
The 55‑foot tall Victorian tower, which is about 10 or 11 feet wide, is one of the tallest structures in Hornsea and a magnet for tourists – if they can find it.
William Bettison, who was a wealthy newspaper owner and brewer in Hull, built it in 1844. At the time it was at the bottom of his garden at Newbegin House, which no longer exists. The old wall and buttress do though, and still point the way to his folly.
As the story goes, Mr Bettison liked to have his tea on the table as soon as he got home from work, so his cook or housekeeper would reportedly climb the tower to look across the Mere.
Upon seeing Mr Bettison returning in his pony and trap over Southorpe Hill and down Hull Road, they would rush back to the house to prepare his food, ensuring it was ready upon his arrival.
The folly has also been used as a lookout post and siren during the Second World War, and in more recent times for community events such as visits from local primary school children, the scarecrow trail, and St George’s Day that saw a large dragon draped around the top.
It’s reported that on a good day, you can see about 20 miles out to sea.
The tower boasts unique features including walls constructed from “treacle bricks” which are over-fired, durable, misshaped bricks, and two distinctive diamond patterns in the walls made from beer bottle bases, which are a nod to its original owner’s trade.
There is also a spy hole in the wall halfway up made from a wine bottle neck.
Maintenance work is planned on the crumbling windows, and the winch-operated flagpole that runs right through the centre, which is starting to crack in places. The pole is believed to be the only one of its type in a folly in the country.
The project has had generous backing from local groups such as Hornsea Lions, Men in Sheds, Hornsea Fire Station, the Hornsea Civic Society and others.
Mick Bateman, who is a roofer and retired firefighter said: “The folly came with the land as well, and I’d just said to Dave ‘ I’ll have a bit of that’ so I gave him fifty pence and we had a contract drawn up.
“We’re both of the same opinion that we’re doing this because we both love Hornsea, and we want to keep it up for Hornsea. Keep it for the town and for the people.
“We’ve only had it open on a few days for the Heritage Open Day, but we’re going to try and open it a bit more now.”
Despite its central location, the folly’s secluded position means that even some residents are unaware of its existence. Mick added that a woman had said to him that she’d lived in Hornsea for 30 years and didn’t even know it was there.
Dave Foster added: “One of Mr Bettison’s ancestors had inherited it and she didn’t want it, so I thought I’d have it. I thought it was ludicrous that they wanted a pound for it.
“It was a shame to let it go out of Hornsea. We both made our livings here and we love it, so it’s not just an investment for us, it’s a investment for the town.”
Two visitors from Sheffield were in the right place at the right time, catching a rare sneak peek while the Gazette was at the folly, and climbed the steep ladders up through all four floors to the top platform.
Karen Brown, who made it up with her partner Gary Warhurst, said: “Isn’t it lovely. We just searched where to go this morning, and we came and had a look at it.
“It’s just in the back of people’s gardens, and houses have just been built around it. It’s hard work getting up here and it’s a bit tight, especially when you have a rucksack on your back.
“It’s somewhere for you to explore.”
As the town looks forward to the Heritage Open Day in September, the planned maintenance of the folly not only ensures the physical preservation of a unique piece of local history, but also serves as an open invitation for all residents, new and old, to discover one of Hornsea’s most intriguing landmarks for themselves.