Old John

The earliest recorded use of the name is on a map of 1754, which records a windmill on the site, some 30 years before the tower was built. The tower itself began life as a ruined folly, built in 1784, during the time of George Grey, 5th Earl of Stamford. He got Thomas Sketchley of Anstey to build him the mock ruin, which had strong similarities to Mow Cop, Staffordshire.Stevenson, Joan & Squires, Anthony (1999) Bradgate Park: Childhood Home of Lady Jane Grey, Kairos Press, {{ISBN|1-871344-23-9}}, p. 55 It was adapted in the mid-19th century by the seventh Earl to serve as an observation tower for the practice circuit he laid out for his horses, along with the building of a stable block lower down the hill. It is well known for its "mug-shape" — there was a longer section of wall adjoining the tower after the 19th century extension but this reduced in size over the years leaving the present 'handle' shape. The mug shape has given rise to false accounts of the tower's origins supposedly relating to a beer-loving miller who was killed after being hit by a pole during a bonfire.

In the past it has also been used as a meeting place for hunters with their fox hounds, and a luncheon house for shooting parties in the park, prior to the park being donated for public use in 1928.Stevenson, Aubrey (1977) Get to Know Bradgate, Leicestershire County Council Libraries and Information Service, p. 17 Internally, the tower retains a number of 19th century fittings, including timber floors, slate fireplaces, shuttered windows and a castellated roof. The tower is a grade II listed building. A narrow spiral staircase gives access to the upper floor, and is open to visitors on the park's guided walk programmes.[http://www.bradgatepark.org/about-us-2/old-john/ Bradgate Park Trust website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029043317/http://www.bradgatepark.org/about-us-2/old-john/ |date=29 October 2016 }} accessed 7 November 2016

In 2001, Bradgate Park Trust registered the design of the building as a trademark, and in 2018 told a local artist that she would have to pay them if she continued to sell her paintings of it.{{cite web|title=Artist in row over charge to paint tower|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-43141497|website=BBC News|accessdate=22 February 2018|date=21 February 2018}}

Adjacent to the tower is a toposcope erected in 1953. This was given by the people of Newtown Linford from money raised at the 1953 'Pageant of Lady Jane Grey', performed to celebrate 400 years since she was proclaimed Queen of England.Stevenson, Joan, (1979) A Family Guide to Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood, Sycamore Press, p.27

File:Leicestershire Yeomanry Memorial, Bradgate Park - geograph.org.uk - 885199.jpg

Old John Tower occupies the north-eastern end of a ridge. Straddling the centre of the ridge is Old John Spinney, and at the south-western end, also at {{convert|212|m|ft}} is the Leicestershire Yeomanry War Memorial. This was built around 1920 to commemorate the fallen of the Leicestershire Yeomanry from their 1900-1902 Boer War campaign and World War I.[http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/listed_buildings/leicestershire_yeomanry_war_memorial_bradgate_park_newtown_linford charnwood.gov.uk Listing report of 15th March 1984 - Grade II listed] accessed 7 November 2016 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052012/http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/listed_buildings/leicestershire_yeomanry_war_memorial_bradgate_park_newtown_linford |date=8 November 2016 }} A further memorial plaque was added after the World War II. An annual wreath-laying ceremony is held at the War Memorial around the anniversary of the Battle of Frezenberg, (which was fought near Ypres in France on 13 May 1915).[http://www.bradgatepark.org/about-us-2/leicetershire-yeomanry-war-memorial/ bradgatepark.org], Leicestershire Yeomany War Memorial], accessed 7 November 2016]

File:London Road in Leicester - geograph.org.uk - 733016.jpg

Bradgate Park is open to the public during all daylight hours. Of the three Bradgate pay and display car parks, the most northerly gives the nearest access to Old John. Formally known as the Hunts Hill Car Park, it is generally called the 'Old John Car Park' by its users.[http://www.bradgatepark.org/about-us/ bradgatepark.org] About Us]

The distinctive outline of the Old John hilltop with its two landmark structures, visible from many parts of Leicester and the surrounding county, has given it a particular local significance to the people of Leicestershire.Stevenson, Joan, (1999) p.70

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161029043317/http://www.bradgatepark.org/about-us-2/old-john/ Bradgate Park Trust website]
• [http://www.goleicestershire.com/outdoors/thedms.asp?dms=13&feature=3&venue=2500180 Old John Tower at Bradgate Country Park] go Leicestershire: The official online guide to Leicester and Leicestershire

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Category:Towers in Leicestershire

Category:Tourist attractions in Leicestershire

Category:Folly towers in England

Category:Towers completed in 1784

Category:Observation towers in the United Kingdom