The Mount
Polly Peachum's Tower
The tower in 2007, viewed from the south-east
Locationnear Wensley, North Yorkshire.
Coordinates54°17′21.19″N 1°52′16.21″W / 54.2892194°N 1.8711694°W / 54.2892194; -1.8711694
OS grid referenceSE 08484 88185
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated5 February 2021
Reference no.1473948
The Mount, North Yorkshire is located in North Yorkshire
The Mount, North Yorkshire
Location of The Mount in North Yorkshire

The Mount, or Polly Peachum's Tower, is a hunting tower near Wensley and about a mile south-east of Bolton Hall, in North Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

History

The tower was probably built in the late 17th or early 18th century, by the 1st Duke or 2nd Duke of Bolton. It is shown on a map of 1723, when it stood in unenclosed parkland, thought to have been used for hunting. The tower was presumably built as a hunting tower, and also perhaps to make the view from Bolton Hall, about a mile to the north-west across a valley, more picturesque.[1]

In an estate plan of 1737, it is shown with a cupola, standing in a square enclosure. In the 1790s it is referred to in letters as "the Temple in Mount Park" and is regarded as a folly.[1]

It is known as "Polly Peachums's Tower", after Lavinia Fenton, an actress and singer who played Polly Peachum in the original production in 1728 of The Beggar's Opera. Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton, had separated from his wife a few weeks after their wedding in 1713, and in 1728 he fell in love with Lavinia Fenton. They lived together happily and discreetly, and they had three sons. They married in 1751. It is thought that they seldom used the Bolton estate, but the tower may have been refurbished for Lavinia Fenton, giving rise to a story that the tower was built to celebrate their marriage.[1][2][3]

The Bolton Estate is owned by the Duke's descendants, the Orde-Powlett family.[4]

Description

As seen in 2021, the tower is partially ruinous and has no roof. It is built of coursed limestone (Great Scar limestone) with ashlar dressings. It is square and has two storeys, the first floor, which is higher than the ground floor, has is a large window at the centre of each wall. A third of the south-east corner has collapsed, and the tops of the south and east windows are missing.[1]

In April 2021, the owners of the Bolton estate applied for planning permission to bring the tower back into use as a small entertainment space, honouring its original purpose by using it to host shooting lunches for their guests.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Historic England. "The Mount, also known as Polly Peachum's Tower (1473948)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Powlett [Paulet], Charles, third duke of Bolton". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 23 September 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/21615. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ↑ "Fenton [née Besswick; married name Powlett or Paulet], Lavinia, duchess of Bolton". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 3 January 2008. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9297. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. 1 2 "Derelict Georgian tower on the Bolton estate in the Yorkshire Dales to be restored as a small entertainment venue hosting shooting lunches" The Yorkshire Post, 28 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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