Boston Castle
| Boston Castle | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Folly |
| Location | Rotherham, South Yorkshire |
| Owner | Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Website | |
| https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/museums | |
Boston Castle is a small historic building in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. It stands on top of the Canklow Woods hillside and has views over the town and the Don Valley.[1] The building is a “folly”, which means it was made mainly for decoration.
History
Boston Castle was built in 1775 for Thomas Walker, a local industrialist. It was made to look like a small castle to celebrate the American colonists who protested against British taxes, especially the Boston Tea Party.[2]
The Walker family used the building as a summer house. Later the land became part of a public park.
In the 2000s the building was restored, and a visitor centre was added. Boston Castle reopened to the public in 2012.[3]
Today
The building is open on selected days. Visitors can see the restored rooms, local displays and views from the roof platform. The surrounding park is used for walking, picnics and events.