Luttrell's Tower

Luttrell’s Tower stands on the Solent shore near Fawley, a three-storey yellow-brick folly built around 1780. Its six-storey circular stair turret rises above the main block, giving a lookout over the water. The tower sits close to Eaglehurst House, once home to the 7th Earl of Cavan. A tunnel from the beach once led straight into the cellar, easing the movement of goods. Thomas Sandby, first Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy, designed the building for Temple Simon Luttrell, a Member of Parliament. The tower’s position allowed views of customs patrols both at sea and inland. In the early 19th century the Earl of Cavan used it as a temporary home before building Eaglehurst House nearby. Guglielmo Marconi rented the tower and house between 1911 and 1916 for wireless experiments. Steps to the beach were added in 1927 by Clough Williams-Ellis. During the Second World War steel shutters were fitted over the windows. Today the tower is a Grade II* listed building and a holiday home run by the Landmark Trust. Inside, visitors find simple rooms with views across the Solent. The stair turret offers a climb to the top for wider sightlines. The beach path below leads to the tunnel entrance, now sealed. The grounds around the tower remain quiet, with Eaglehurst House standing a short distance inland.