Folly in Farringdon, Hampshire, built by Reverend Thomas Hackett Massey will …

Folly in Farringdon, Hampshire, built by Reverend Thomas Hackett Massey
The Rev built the ornate structure over four decades using his own hands
Property stood empty for years because ‘no-one knew what to do with it’
Said to be built to impress an Indian widow who had moved to the village

Amie Gordon For Mailonline

Published:
18:56 GMT, 17 January 2016

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Updated:
19:01 GMT, 17 January 2016

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Britain’s biggest folly that was painstakingly built over a 40 year period by an eccentric Victorian vicar will at last be given a purpose in life after plans were approved to convert it into housing.

Massey’s Folly in the Hampshire village of Farringdon is an impressive 17 room red-brick building with two industrial-like towers that was literally a labour of love for Reverend Thomas Hackett Massey.

The handyman clergyman rebuilt the chancel and rectory for All Saints church in the mid 19th century but then in 1870 inexplicably began developing a site opposite.

Finally given a purpose: Britain’s biggest folly has been given planning permission to be turned into housing

To the bemusement of villagers Rev Massey ‘built and built’ the ornate structure over four decades using his own hands and the occasional assistance of a carpenter, bricklayer and labourer.

After his death in 1919 the mystery development was left to the village by the executors of his will.

But it stood empty for many years because nobody knew what to do with it, earning it the name Massey’s Folly.

It was only in 1925 that it was used as the village hall and village primary school. It has more recently been used as a day nursery and for evening courses.

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Built by the Reverend Thomas Hackett Massey, ‘Massey’s Folly’ in the Hampshire village of Farringdon is a 17 room red-brick building

The building was granted Grade II listed status but in 2004 it was placed on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register because it had fallen into a state of neglect.

Last year the village agreed to sell the folly to developers and permission has been granted to convert the inside of it into five houses. Because of its protected status the facade must remain as it is.

The development will be the first time the folly has been given a definitive purpose.

Villager Chrys Browne is recording people’s photographs and memories of the unique building for a project before the work starts.

A labour of love: Built over a 40 year period, the building stood empty following the Reverend’s death in 1919. It was given Grade II listed status and in 2004 was placed on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register

Mrs Browne said: ‘It is called Massey’s Folly but it is also known as the Marmite building because people either love it or hate it.

‘It was quite incongruous. It looks like it belongs in a northern mill town and not in the heart of rural Hampshire.

‘The vicar was quite an eccentric character. He was quite reclusive to the point where he had a screen put up in the church so people could not see him while he gave his sermons.

‘He didn’t really have an idea of what he wanted it to be while he was building it. He just built and built. Forty years of his life was spent building this incredible building.

‘He wasn’t able to complete it in his lifetime and the villagers finished it off for him.

‘But now it is falling down and is bleeding money. It used to be the hub of the village but the parish council moved out of it in 1987.

‘Last summer there was a village meeting where it was agreed to sell Massey’s Folly to a London development company that has a good track record with listed property.

‘Now it will be turned into housing and I suppose will have its first intended purpose.’

The Marmite building: Locals either love or hate the structure, with many claiming it looks like it belongs in a northern mill town and not in the heart of rural Hampshire. Right, the South Downs National Park Authority and East Hampshire District Council have given the green light to a housing development

Over the years two possible theories for Rev Massey’s motivation for the folly have been put forward.

Some said he built it because Farringdon, in the Hampshire commuter belt, would one day became a town due to urban sprawl and therefore it would need a suitable town hall.

The other reason was that he wanted to impress an Indian widow who had moved to the village. Parts of the structure are said to have been inspired by Indian architecture.

The village of Farringdon, near Alton, sits within the South Downs National Park.