Building record 0420802035 - BOURBON TOWER, Stowe Landscape Gardens

Plan Form - Cylindrical.
Grade II. Cylindrical tower of ironstone circa 1741 probably by Gibbs. Small round arched windows and machicolated parapet, surmounted by octagonal turret, apparently replacing original conical roof. Known as the Keepers Lodge, but altered and renamed in honour of a visit by the exiled Louis XVIII in 1808. Ramparts dated 1814 (B14).
Built in 1742 by Lord Cobham originally as a keeper's lodge to control access to the estate from the south and east. It was renamed the Bourbon Tower in 1808 to commemorate a visit by the exiled French royal family. In January 1808, Louis XVIII and other members of the royal family planted clumps of trees around the tower and a stone inscription was placed above the door (now lost). In 1843, the Duke of Buckingham instructed Edward Blore to turn the Bourbon Tower into a mock fort for use by the local Yeomanry complete with a saluting platform. A crenallated octagonal turret (24ft high x 10ft wide) was errected on top of the tower with a saluting battery and flag staff. Other military facilites in this area of the park included a Cavalry drill park and rifle range. At about this time the four small towers (illustrated in 1805) were replaced by a substantial earthwork. The Sergeant Major of the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry lived in the building until 1923. It was gutted by fire, but was still used as the home of Stowe School clay pigeon club from 1936-1993. A survey underaken by English Heritage in 2000 located earthworks interpreted as the remains of the saluting platform and the sites of the four smaller towers, and with the designed plantings of trees. The saluting battery, storage recess and embrasures were located on the western side of the tower, and the gateway, magazine and gun cartridge dump to the east. The earthworks associated with the smaller towers were to the north and south. The pattern of tree stumps and surviving trees was also noted. The pond to the SW can still be seen as an earthwork and in an area of boggy ground, but it is cut by a field boundary. Maps from 1900 show that it was clearly associated with the tower and was linked by a footpath. It is believed that the pond was more functional for stock to drink and to attract deer more than ornamental. Features to the east of the tower have been damaged by ploughing (B18).
A watching brief carried out during tree planting produced only one piece of 19th century pottery (B19).
Its position in the landscape must relate to the creation of the extended park (B20).
Description & account of visit by Louis XVIII (B4).
Brief description in c.1862 (B5) and in early 20th century (B6).
Description & location plan (B7).