Sham Castle

A castle built for the view

The folly was raised in 1762 by Richard James, master mason to Ralph Allen, the businessman behind much of Bath's honey-coloured stone. The design is usually credited to Sanderson Miller. Its job was simply to 'improve the prospect' from Allen's town house, so it is all front: a wall with a pointed central arch, two round three-storey turrets and a square tower at each end, with nothing behind.

What you see today

Sham Castle is Grade II* listed and is now lit after dark, which makes it easy to spot from the city centre in the evening. Up close it is a short stop rather than a visit in itself, but the setting on the edge of the down is the point: on a clear day you look straight back across Bath's terraces and crescents.

Making a walk of it

Most people combine it with a stretch of the Bath Skyline walking route, which passes close by, turning a quick look into a half-day ramble with views. It suits walkers, photographers and anyone curious about Georgian Bath's taste for theatrical scenery. Bring sturdy shoes, as the climb from the city is steep, and allow time to linger on the way down.

Highlights

• Georgian folly built in 1762 for Ralph Allen
• Grade II* listed
• Floodlit after dark and visible from the city
• Views back over Bath from Claverton Down

Good to know

• It is a facade only - there is no interior to visit.
• The walk up from the city centre is steep; the Bath Skyline route passes nearby.

Frequently asked questions