Repair fund for famous landmark reaches £350,000

New research suggests Faringdon Folly was the inspiration for Saruman's Tower of Orthanc in The Lord of the Rings

A well known landmark, which it is thought has links to the Lord of the Rings novels, is on target to be repaired with £350,000 raised so far to save it.

Faringdon Folly in Oxfordshire will be 90 years old in November and needs work to its weather-facing wall and bricks.

The total cost will be £420,000 and fundraisers are confident they will reach their target before scaffolding goes up in March 2026.

New research suggests the folly and its surroundings were JRR Tolkein's inspiration for the hill in Hobbiton and the wizard Saruman's tower of Orthanc.

"In Victorian times, it was quite popular to have a construction in your garden to show off to the neighbours - and this is the ultimate [one]," Chair of the tower's trust Sjoerd Vogt said.

The folly, which recently featured in Radio Oxford's Destination OX, was built in 1935 by local aristocrat Lord Berners.

According to Mr Vogt, it was the last major extravagance of this kind, to be constructed in the UK.

"By then it was already austerity years and it wasn't really seen as the right thing to do to show off that you had wealth," he said.

Faringdon Folly features a wooden staircase that winds 34-metres to the top

Fundraising events have been taking place since the tower's last repair in 2012.

They have included a three-legged charity pub crawl, running challenges and concerts. Larger grants have also come from organisations like the National Lottery.

On a clear day, the views from the top of the tower, stretch as far as Somerset.