Fonthill Abbey

Fonthill Abbey — also known as Beckford's Folly — was a large Gothic-style building built in the turn of the 19th century in Wiltshire, England. Fonthill Abbey, England. ... Fonthill Abbey, England. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Ethnicity...

Fonthill Abbey was a brainchild of William Thomas Beckford, son of a wealthy English businessman and student of [[Construction of the abbey begun 1795 in Beckford's estate near Hindon in Wiltshire, England. He built a 12-feet (3.6 metres) high and 7 miles (11 km) long wall around his estate to keep out unwanted spectators and hired James Wyatt as the leading architect. Over the protestations of his builders, Beckford decided that earlier foundations that had been made for a small summer house would suffice and decided to use faster materials like timber and cement — instead of more appropriate stone or bricks. Fonthill Abbey designed for William Beckford by the architect James Wyatt William Thomas Beckford (October 1, 1760 – May 2, 1844) was an English novelist, art critic, travel writer and politician. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Wiltshire (abbreviated Wilts) is a large southern English county. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Ethnicity... Fonthill Abbey. ... 19th century Cottages in the small hamlet of Crafton, Buckinghamshire A cottage is a small house of any period. ... Timber Timber is a term used to describe wood throughout its processing from the time it is planned for use in industrial products to the time it is used as a structural material or in other industrial product, such as wood pulp for paper production. ... In the general sense, a cement (Latin caementum) is any material with adhesive properties. ... A weathered brick wall. ...

Beckford's 500 labourers worked in day and night shifts. He bribed 450 more from the building of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle by increasing an ale ratio to speed things up. He also commandeered all the wagons to transportation of building materials. To compensate, Beckford delivered free coal and blankets to the poor in cold weather. St. ... An early 18th century view of Windsor Castle by Kip and Knyff. ...

The first part was the tower that reached about 90 metres (300 feet) before it collapsed. Beckford later said that he was sorry he could not see it fall himself.

The new tower was finished six years later, again 90 metres tall. It collapsed as well. Beckford immediately started to build another one, this time with rock and this work was finished in seven years.

The abbey part was decorated with silver, gold, red and purple. Four long wings radiated from the octagonal central room. Front doors were 35 feet (10 metres) tall. It was declared finished in 1813. 1813 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Beckford lived alone in his abbey and used only one of its bedrooms for his own use. His kitchens prepared food for 12 every day although he always dined alone and sent other meals away afterwards. Only once, in 1800 he entertained guests when Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lady Hamilton visited the Abbey. 1800 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (September 29, 1758 – October 21, 1805) was a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. ... Emma Hamilton, in one of dozens of portraits by George Romney, at the height of her beauty in the 1780s Emma Hamilton (Lady Hamilton) (April 26, 1765 - January 16, 1815) is best remembered as the mistress of Horatio Nelson. ...

Once he demanded that he would eat a Christmas dinner only if it would be served from new abbey kitchens and told his workmen to hurry. The kitchens collapsed in as soon as the meal was over.

Beckford lived in Fonthill Abbey until 1822 when he lost two of his Jamacian sugar plantations in a legal action. He was forced to sell it for £330,000 to an ammunitions dealer, John Farquhar. The main tower collapsed for the last time in 1825. The rest of the abbey was later demolished. Only a gatehouse and a small remnant of the north wing remain to this day. A sugar is a carbohydrate which is sweet to taste. ... 1825 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

William Beckford died in 1844 in Bath, England. 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For alternate meanings see Bath (disambiguation) Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in south-west England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ...