18-2-19
Flagpole fixed!
At last we have managed to fix a mechanical problem that has prevented us from flying the flag of St George to show the world that we are open for visitors. That means that on Sunday, 24 February, our flag should be flying between 11am and 3pm, when the folly will be open for visits – weather permitting!
30-11-18
Bugler greets Folly visitors
A few visitors were surprised by an impromptu bugle performance by one of the @Flounders_Folly trustees, Stuart Phillips, when he stewarded the tower on Sunday. We had between 60-70 people make the walk to the Folly, including groups from Shrewsbury and Oswestry. Thanks to John and Corinne Russell for the video! (link below)
Folly Bugler
3-9-18
Ken’s 79-year walk to the top of the Folly!
On 3 September 1939, Ken Davies set out on his ninth birthday to walk with his family from their home in Wistanstow to the landmark tower of Flounders Folly.
The route was so hilly that Ken didn’t make it all the way that day – also the day World War Two was declared – but he finally made it to the top on 3 September 2018, his 88th birthday!
“I say it’s taken me 79 years to get here,” joked Ken after walking to the folly, the 80-feet-high tower built by Benjamin Flounders in 1838 on Callow Hill, and then climbing the 78 steps to the top of its turret.
In 1939, Ken’s grandfather was the tenant at Church House Farm, Wistanstow, but, shortly after, the family moved first to Bromsgrove and then to Ledbury, where they now run the Woodside Lodges Country Park.
Ken never made it back to complete his walk to the folly, but his family arranged for him to do so as a birthday surprise. His daughter Emma said: “He has been talking about going to the folly for a long time now, to re-visit it with his grandchildren who are now a similar age to what he was then.”
So with the help of the Flounders Folly Trust, Ken and 10 younger members of the family finally made to the tower today and climbed to the very top. While the views were restricted by cloud, the memories of a special day will stay with the family. Many congratulations to Ken!
12-8-18
A fantastic day at the Folly, with the annual MagnaLonga Walk bringing almost 700 visitors to our grounds, and a good percentage of them choosing to walk up the tower. Not the best of days for views, but we managed to dodge the heavy rain. Doubtless many of today’s visitors will be back when we’re open on a clearer day!
2-4-18
Not the best of days to be at the Folly, this was the scene on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, 2 April. Thanks to our volunteer warden Andrew Apps for the photo.
We are next open
9-1-18 HAPPY NEW YEAR – WATCH A FANTASTIC VIDEO!
The Folly’s 2018 opening dates are viewable on our home page and we look forward to welcoming you for a visit sometime in the coming 12 months.
Meanwhile, big thanks to Tom Woodward who has shot a magnificently atmospheric drone video of the Folly. Watch it on these links:
https://youtu.be/lxkPFQAFHyw or https://www.facebook.com/imstilldroningon/videos/242634899605864/
4-2-16 £500 BOOST FROM ACT OF SHEER FOLLY! – The Folly Trust has received a very welcome £500 donation towards ongoing maintenance costs from the Wood Brewery at Wistanstow.
The money has been given as a result of sales of Sheer Folly, the excellent special brew that Wood’s produced in bottles and on draft for sale in pubs around Shropshire and adjoining counties. Given the battering that the Folly takes year-round from the elements, we are always conscious of the need to do running repairs so this is a much-appreciated boost to our coffers.
Below, Wood Brewery MD Edward Wood (right) presents the cheque to Folly Trustee Richard Cundall, who said, “It was very thoughtful of the brewery to choose us as for a donation 10 years after we completed the folly restoration. Wood’s are a tremendous local business and Sheer Folly itself was an excellent beer. Visitor donations remain vitally important to help us keep the folly in good condition, but this is a tremendous boost to the fund.”
27-11-2015 OPEN SUNDAY – If you want a bracing walk this weekend, don’t forget that the Folly is scheduled to be open between 11am and 3pm on Sunday, 29 November. Entry to the tower is free, but donations are always gratefully received to help keep the building in good repair.
1-11-2015 POPULAR SPOT! – Dozens of people took advantage of the Folly’s most recent open Sunday, 24 October. There was a constant stream of visitors to take advantage of the views in the fine weather. Many thanks to all those visitors who made generous donations.
The Folly is next open on Sunday 29 November.
17-08-2015 FOLLY AERIAL SHOTS – Thanks to Jamie Whelan who walked up to the Folly yesterday with a Shrewsbury Rotary Club group and took a series of fascinating aerial views with a drone camera. Enjoy the results on this link: http://youtu.be/iMFE-9bl3yE
21-07-2015 DIARY DATE – The Folly will be open to visitors from 11am to 4pm this Sunday, 26 July. We look forward to seeing people.
26-05-2015 THE DRY WEATHER over the Bank Holiday proved just the incentive to entice people to the Folly. On Bank Holiday Monday alone, more than 100 people visited to enjoy the walk and the views, and our volunteer stewards collected £100 for funds.
The money is particularly important to us at present since the Trustees are having to finance some minor, but essential, maintenance and repairs to the tower. It is now 10 years since the restoration of the Folly was complete, and so the harsh weather is starting to take its toll on such an exposed building.
- NB: You can visit the Folly again this coming Sunday, 31 May 2015. It is scheduled to open between 11am and 4pm.
28-04-2015 £265 QUIZ FUND BOOST… The Quiz Night at The Plough Inn, Wistanstow, raised a fantastic £265 for Folly funds. Many thanks to George and his team at The Plough for organising the event, and to all the participants, who donated so generously.
We can also report that around 50 visitors made their way to the Folly on Sunday, 26 April, some doubtless inspired by the quiz night! The clear weather meant they were able to enjoy outstanding views. One of our Trustees, Nick Phillips, who was up there to open the tower, says it was so clear that it was even possible to make out the Pennines – one of the very few occasions that that has been possible.
13-04-2015 QUIZ NIGHT FUNDRAISER… The Plough Inn, Wistanstow, which the Folly overlooks from a distance, is staging a Quiz Night on Friday, 24 April, to raise funds for the Folly Trust. The quiz starts at 8.30pm and entry is £2 per person, generally with teams of 4.
You cannot book tables for the quiz, it’s first come, first served, so if you plan to attend, early arrival is wise.
The Plough is also doing Pre-Quiz Meals, served between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, two courses for £10. Booking is advisable and, of course, if you book a table for the meal, you can keep the table for the quiz. If you want to book, the Plough’s phone number is 01588 673251.
If you can’t make the quiz, please keep a look-out for local hostelries selling SHEER FOLLY. 
The Wood Brewery first brewed this beer in 2003 to help raise funds for the Folly’s restoration. The re-styled pale ale now on release to mark the 10th anniversary of the Folly’s total restoration, is still 4.3% alcohol and is a superb pint! Better still, Wood’s are giving 5p to the Folly Trust for every pint sold!!
5-04-2015 TOWER FLOWER POWER… A lone cowslip has defied the recent cold weather to blossom in the grounds of the Folly. You can see the flower and the tower tomorrow (Easter Monday, 6 April) – we’re open to the public from 10am – 4pm.
30-03-2015 Congratulations to all those who braved the extremely high winds to venture up to the Folly yesterday. And a big Thank You to them for some generous donations, which are vital to helping us maintain this exposed outpost.
Visitors included a couple from Bridgnorth wanting a bracing walk before an afternoon party, a walking group from Shrewsbury, a young family from London and a grandfather and grandson from Aston-on-Clun who were visiting the Folly for the first time.
Conditions in the morning could only be described as foul but visibility cleared in the afternoon with visitors enjoying views as far east as the Malvern Hills, and south to Skirrid (Abergavenny) and Hay Bluff. While the rain dried up, the wind blasted powerfully throughout the day – to the extent that the St George’s flag atop the tower, used to signify that the Folly is open, was wrapped immovably round the flagpole by closing time at 4pm! It survived the night, though, and we were able to haul it down this morning.
The Folly will be open again on Good Friday (3 April) and Bank Holiday Monday (6 April). Hopefully the weather will be a little kinder!
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23-02-15 We manage to open in all weathers! Yesterday was no exception… despite the rain and snow several people braved the elements to visit the Folly, to be greeted by intrepid volunteer steward Ian Dodd. Even if the views were limited, the fresh air was good!
Our next open day will be Sunday, 29 March.