Folly

A building usually constructed for an ornamental and/or ostentatious purpose with an eccentric appearance. Often found in gardens they may take the form of mock castles or temples and normally have no proper function. They may also be built as prominent towers, such as Dinton Castle that can be seen from the A418 into Aylesbury or grottos, such as several in Stowe landscape gardens, including the Hermitage. Most follies date from the post-medieval period, though there are also some quite recent examples.