Tarring Folly.

     In 1893 Mr. W Boyes, a solicitor bought a house in Tarring and built a Folly in his garden. It was designed as a study to give him a place to go to escape from his wife and daughters. It was built at the turn of the 19th century in two stages out of brick and flint. It is some 4 metres square and 10 metres high.

   It was disused for many years until it was restored in the 1950's but is now falling into disrepair again. It lies in a private garden but can be seen from the road to the south and by standing and from the roof of a building to the north. From West Worthing station go over the level crossing up South Street. Just up on the right is Westland Avenue from which you can get a good view of the folly. Ownership apparently changed hands some 10 years ago and the adjoining house was to have been converted to flats. Flint walls were destroyed and bonfires lit in the back garden. At one time the Folly was on fire! The house of the owners is also decaying rapidly. To get to the door you have to crawl under bushes despite being on a main road. People live there but rarely come out and never answer the door. There has been talk of squatters. Despite being under a protection order the Folly is surrounded by rubbish and bushes and nothing it seems can be done to enforce repairs. This Folly needs new friends.                        Click Photo to return.