Reference no. 32038 Designated as world heritage site 1 February 1956 | Year built 1762 Architect Sanderson Miller | |
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Location Bathampton, Somerset, England Address Golf Course Rd, Bath BA2 6JG, UK Hours Open today ยท Open 24 hoursFridayOpen 24 hoursSaturdayOpen 24 hoursSundayOpen 24 hoursMondayOpen 24 hoursTuesdayOpen 24 hoursWednesdayOpen 24 hoursThursdayOpen 24 hoursSuggest an edit Similar Prior Park Landscape Garden, Beckford's Tower, Bathampton Down, Pulteney Bridge, Widcombe Manor House | ||
Ttt peach s sham castle
Sham Castle is a folly in Bathampton overlooking the city of Bath, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II* listed building. It is a screen wall with a central pointed arch flanked by two 3-storey circular turrets, which extend sideways to a 2-storey square tower at each end of the wall.
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It was probably designed around 1755 by Sanderson Miller and built in 1762 by Richard James, master mason for Ralph Allen, "to improve the prospect" from Allen's town house in Bath.
Sham Castle is now illuminated at night.
Generic term
Other 18th-century so-called "sham castles" exist at Hagley Hall, Clent Grove and Castle Hill, Filleigh.
Ralph Allen's nearby Prior Park Landscape Garden is home to the Sham Bridge. This structure is likewise a screen at the end of the Serpentine Lake which appears to be a bridge. Much like the Sham Castle, it dates from the mid-18th century.
Another nearby folly castle is that of Midford Castle. Sham Castle is one of three follies overlooking Bath, the others being Beckford's Tower and Brown's Folly.