FEBRUARY 2026 MEETING

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 in Holy Cross Church Hall, Butts Road, SN4 0NN at 7.30pm. The subject is ‘Wiltshire Follies’, presented by Jonathan Holt. Find out the stories behind the extraordinary buildings around us as Jonathan answers the question: ‘Who on earth built that?!’ The county is full of these curious buildings which can take many forms – towers, grottoes, summer-houses, shell houses, eyecatchers, mock ruins, temples, hermitages, obelisks, pagodas, rustic seats - the list goes on. The stories behind them are many and various - built out of passion, megalomania, artistry, showing off one’s wealth or to keep up with or block out one’s neighbours. Jonathan will give the talk a local focus, featuring mainly places within  twenty five miles of us so that members can easily find the follies for themselves. Many follies are tucked away in private grounds and rarely seen by the public. Jonathan has gained exclusive access to these follies and taken some stunning photographs to accompany the talk. Jonathan has been talking and writing on the subject of architectural follies for thirty years, including as Editor of Follies, the organ of the Folly Fellowship a charity dedicated to their preservation and appreciation.