Faringdon

Between Faringdon and Coleshill, on the Highworth road, is the Iron Age Hill Fort at Badbury Hill.

Near to Badbury is the village of Great Coxwell, which is home to the Great Barn, a monastic Tithe Barn of magnificent dimensions, that is still in use today, and is also open to visitors.
These two sites are in the care of the National Trust.

Tithe Barn at Great Coxwell

Dominating Faringdon is the Folly. This example of English eccentricity was built by Lord Berner in 1935, and is probably the last great folly to built in this country. It provides splendid views over the surrounding countryside, and is open to the public on the first Sunday of the month during summer. It has also 'Starred' in an episode of the 'New Avengers' TV series, and was used as a lookout post during the Second World War.

Faringdon House, which was Lord Berner's home was built in 1780 by Henry James Pye, to replace the original building. Henry Pye was poet Laureate to George III, and was distinguished as the worst ever holder of the title. The Nursery Rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' was sung as a satirical comment of his work.

The eccentricity of Lord Berner extended beyond the Folly, he also introduced the practice dyeing the doves in his dovecote, as a result many visitors have to look twice at these vividly coloured birds before they actually believe what they have seen. The successor to Lord Berner, Robert Heber-Percy, continued the eccentric vein, by building a 'Gothic' style swimming pool in the grounds of Faringdon House, complete with stone winged Wyverns, and a round tower paved with coins.

There are many unusual buildings in the town, including All Saints church which owes its unusual appearance to the Civil War, when its Steeple was destroyed. In 1926 a cannon ball was found embedded in the belfry when work was being carried out on the church bells.