Nabbs House Folly

Nabbs House Folly is situated on Brandlesome Road about half a mile from the Bulls Head pub in Greenmount proper, heading towards Bury on the left-hand side is a most peculiar building. This is Nabbs House Folly. When I visited it was in a considerable state of disrepair. It is situated at the Bury end of a triangular garden. It seems to have been called "The Images", but I never heard it called that in the 20 years I was in Tottington.

The interesting for me is a similarity in the stonework with Tottington Dungeon. They were built at approximately the same time 1830's out of local stone Link to the Dungeon here

However here is the extract from the proposal in I believe about 2008 for a restore of this folly.

The full document can be found here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/68670859/00040800-1

My photos are taken in 2011 It seems that the folly may have fallen further into disrepair.

“The Folly known as ”The Images” was build probably c. 1835 by John

Turner. Sited at the apex of the triangular garden, terminating the short

vista from the house and backing on Brandlesholme Road and the

converging minor, Nabbs Way.

Gothic in style, having the character of miniature castle on the rear, road

sides and that of bare ruined choir on the front facing the house. Front

symmetrically arcaded with narrow Gothic arches. Twin circular turrets

behind. Rusticated walls of one storey height to three sides of rectangular

rear”. (Extract from SD 71 SE 5/5.)

Ralph Rooney

“This castle-like summerhouse has numerous gargoyles on the rim of the battlemented walls and protruding from the walls. These are said to represent the faces of Greenmount villagers to whom John turner had taken particular dislike. The heads of the gargoyles are hollow, and

in wet weather water dribbled from their ears and mouths. The inside of the summerhouse was once panelled with richly carved oak. It was said that Turner, an eccentric man and his valet would occasionally go on the binge, spending days at the time locked in the summerhouse. There were various passages leading back to the main house. The passages one lined with coloured glass, opened out into rooms in which there were more stone carvings of animals and people. A most impressive one is of a man lying on a couch, gun at his side and dog at his feet. John turner devised some tricky water spouts along the approach to the house. One was a brass hose cunningly concealed in the cobbles at his front gate, one

over the front door and another in summerhouse. He used these on any undesirable visitors, who were given an unexpected soaking...”

Extract from “ The Story of my Life” by Ralph Rooney.

I believe this has gone back into print...

The rear of the folly. This picture is taken from the rear of the folly.
Nabbs House is just beyond.

Also the rear, Close up of Animal head

A grinning skull

Photographed from Brandlesome Road. Looks very like a chess piece. Note the 2 skulls at either side

Further away, Nabbs House in the background to the left. The bungalows on Nabbs Close are to the right.

I do believe there was a carving of an upper body holding a stone. Allegedly if you went past on the hour the stone would be thrown at you. We alway ran past - Don't take any chances.

Some other gleanings from the Internet.

John Turner on the 1841 Census clearly showing Nabbs House

John Turner in the 1861 census at the age of 50 with a servant

John Heap; this extract was from an armoury magazine

Mentions Edward Turner, perhaps a son, but he was certainly into hunting with dogs.

Tied up with Railways. The extract did not say what clearly a man of substance

More interesting, because I actually knew this woman. My mother was a flower arranger and Edna Wood ran a business from Nabbs house, renting and perhaps selling plastic flower arrangements. She was certainly very forceful. It did seem like a good idea. I recall my father getting roped in once. They designed a "kit" that you could assemble yourself. She exhibited at a major trade fair in Blackpool and did quite well as I recall. Was in Nabbs House quite a few times in my early teens.

Seems like an opportunity for more research - but the photos are on the web. The PDF file with more pictures is there also. I think I want to return and blag my way in and update the file.