Culloden Tower

Eighteenth-century Richmond folly with Gothic detail, classical lines, and wide Swale valley views.

Culloden Tower stands above Richmond as one of Yorkshire's stranger and more handsome follies. It was built in the 18th century to commemorate the Duke of Cumberland's victory at Culloden, a political message now more uncomfortable than triumphant. Architecturally it is still a treat: part Gothic flourish, part classical tower, looking out over the Swale and the edge of the Dales.

The tower itself is not a conventional attraction with regular public rooms, but the exterior and setting make it worth seeking out on a walk from town. It gives Richmond another layer beyond the castle and market square: the aristocratic landscape of views, symbols, and private monuments that once framed the town.

things to do sight architecture viewpoint