In the mid-18th century, a renewed interest in the Middle Ages led to a Gothic revival and the fashion to idolise past heroes.

King Alfred is known for defeating the invading Danes at the battle of Edington. It is this victory which Henry Hoare II sought to commemorate by constructing the triangular redbrick Alfred's Tower, beginning in 1762.

Lying 2 miles north-west of the garden, the 50m high Tower stands on the spot where in 879AD the King raised his standard after emerging from hiding.

The Saxon King Alfred was commonly revered by the British; for it was believed that they inherited their freedom from their Saxon ancestors.

A bust of the King had been placed in the Temple of British Worthies at Stowe. Henry also had one commissioned, which is still on display in Stourhead House.

In the trend to honour true patriotism, Henry Hoare II took pride in creating what is now considered to be one of the finest follies in England.

© NTPL / Bill Batten

A scheme to crown or top it all

In a letter to his eldest daughter, Susanna, Henry Hoare II writes about his great project...

'I have one more scheme which will crown or top it all. As I was reading Voltaire's "L'Histoire Générale" lately, in his character of Alfred the Great he says, I know of no man on this earth more worthy of the respect of posterity than Alfred the Great, who rendered his services to his nation.

'Out of gratitude to him I propose...to erect a Tower on Kingsettle Hill where he set up his standard after he came out of concealment in the Isle of Athelney near Taunton, and the Earl of Devon had worsted the Danes...I intend to build it on the plan of San Marco’s Tower at Venice, 100 foot to the room which the staircase will lead to and 4 arches to look out in the 4 sides to the prospect all round.'

Views from the top of Alfred's Tower

A spiral staircase takes you to a viewing platform, offering spectacular views across the three counties of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire:

© National Trust / Edward Shorthouse

View from the top of the Tower along the Carriage Ride approach which starts at the House. In the distance is Whitesheet Hill.

© National Trust / Edward Shorthouse

View from the top of the Tower across to Somerset and Glastonbury Tor.

© National Trust / Edward Shorthouse

View from the top of the Tower across to Somerset towards Shepton Mallet and Bristol.

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Unlike the other Stourhead monuments, Alfred's Tower was built of bricks (about a million of them) and was to be approached by a carriage ride from the garden, designed to impress guests with the treasures of the wider estate.

Above the door to the Tower is a statue of King Alfred created in 1770 by 'a young lad of 18' who came to Stourhead and in seven weeks 'finished a figure of Alfred the Great 10 feet high, from a model given him, to the admiration of all the spectators’.

The statue bears the inscription:

The Tower, though a tribute to King Alfred, also commemorates the accession of King George III in 1760, and the end of the Seven Years War three years later.

In August 1944, the Tower was hit by an American aircraft, killing the crew and dislodging the top 10 metres of the Tower, which have since been rebuilt.