Stunning pictures show a majestic eight-storey Gothic tower which is now on the market for £2million – and was rumoured to have been built by a jealous husband to spy on his ex-wife.
Hadlow Tower, which stands at 175ft, was erected by the wealthy merchant and land owner Walter Barton May in 1838 in the grounds of Hadlow Castle in Tonbridge, Kent.
Rumours circulated that Mr May used his gigantic creation as a vantage point for snooping on his former wife, who ran off with a local farmer.
The Grade I listed building – 6ft taller than Nelson’s Column – has since undergone major renovation and is now ready for a new owner.
Stunning Hadlow Tower, which was built in 1838 in the grounds of Hadlow Castle in Kent by Walter Barton May. It was rumoured that his motive was to create a good vantage point to spy on his estranged wife
The unique home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a dining room, a kitchen, a drawing room and a media room.
The master bedroom, known as the Rapunzel Room, has its own roof terrace and its idyllic 3.45acre grounds boasts a croquet lawn and an ornamental boating lake.
Used as a look out during World War Two, the tower was bought up by Royal painter Bernard Hailstone.
![The striking living room in the eight-storey tower, with a bold fireplace, immaculate wooden floors and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/15/4D1A0E0400000578-5827003-image-m-90_1528642661523.jpg)
The striking living room in the eight-storey tower, with a bold fireplace, immaculate wooden floors and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling
![Nestled at the foot of a winding modern staircase is a study desk, complete with a vintage desk lamp and freestanding globe](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/15/4D1A0DD400000578-5827003-image-m-91_1528642674130.jpg)
Nestled at the foot of a winding modern staircase is a study desk, complete with a vintage desk lamp and freestanding globe
![Modern touch: Inside the living area is an enormous television, a sheepskin rug and leather chairs and footstools. Striking images hang from the bright pink walls](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/15/4D1A0DE400000578-5827003-image-m-95_1528642725560.jpg)
Modern touch: Inside the living area is an enormous television, a sheepskin rug and leather chairs and footstools. Striking images hang from the bright pink walls
However, it was badly damaged in the Great Storm of 1987 and became derelict before a compulsary purchase order was issued by the local council in 2010.
At that time, Hadlow Tower was listed on the World Monument Fund’s 100 most endangered historic buildings in the world.
It was sold to the Vivat Trust, a charity that preserves historic buildings, for the paltry sum of £1.
A three-year £4.5million renovation completed in 2013 paid for by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage transformed Hadlow Tower into a state of the art home.
Specialist craftsmen carefully removed and replaced every fine detail of the intricate stone work, while the inside was modernised to the extent that even a lift was added.
![The stunning dining room in the tower is flawlessly furnished with an eight-seat table in the centre of the room and a piano under an alcove in the corner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A0E0B00000578-5827003-image-m-105_1528643288692.jpg)
The stunning dining room in the tower is flawlessly furnished with an eight-seat table in the centre of the room and a piano under an alcove in the corner
![Long curtains hang in one of the four bedrooms in the tower, which is tucked away at the bottom of a set of wooden steps](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A0DC000000578-5827003-image-m-108_1528643374977.jpg)
Long curtains hang in one of the four bedrooms in the tower, which is tucked away at the bottom of a set of wooden steps
![On guard! A knight's armour stands in the hallway outside one of the living rooms in the tower, which is on the market for £2million](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A0E1C00000578-5827003-On_guard_A_knights_armour_stands_in_the_hallway_outside_one_of_t-m-1_1528643593449.jpg)
On guard! A knight’s armour stands in the hallway outside one of the living rooms in the tower, which is on the market for £2million
The property was rented by Vivat as holiday accommodation until they went into liquidation and the present owner, Christian Tym, purchased it for £425,000.
The accountant has lived there with his wife Becca and four sons since last August but they have now decided to now put it the market with Strutt & Parker.
The value of Hadlow Tower has shot up after Mr Tym was able to get some stringent covenants lifted which were still in place when he purchased it, putting off potential buyers before him.
![A striking overhead view of the tower, which has attracted a lot of attention from buyers since it was put up for sale](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A131C00000578-5827003-A_striking_overhead_view_of_the_tower_which_is-m-4_1528645041372.jpg)
A striking overhead view of the tower, which has attracted a lot of attention from buyers since it was put up for sale
![The tower, with its exquisite Gothic design, looms majestically over the historic market town of Tonbridge in Kent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A14CE00000578-5827003-The_tower_looms_majestically_over_the_historic_market_town_of_To-m-9_1528645265477.jpg)
The tower, with its exquisite Gothic design, looms majestically over the historic market town of Tonbridge in Kent
![The stunning grounds which surround Hadlow Tower. It boasts a winding pond, lush green lawns and plenty of trees](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/10/16/4D1A130900000578-5827003-image-m-10_1528645303217.jpg)
The stunning grounds which surround Hadlow Tower. It boasts a winding pond, lush green lawns and plenty of trees
Mr Tym, 42, said it has been an ‘amazing’ place to live but it was the right time to sell it for private reasons.
He said: ‘It is a phenomenal place to live and my four boys love playing hide and seek inside! When you drive up to Hadlow Tower it can’t help but put a smile on your face.
‘In the summer it is marvellous and in the winter it is mysterious. It’s a unique place to live and from the top there is nothing blocking your view so you can look out as far as the eye can see.
‘I fell in love with Hadlow Tower at first sight and we are selling it with a heavy heart.’
James Mackenzie, head of Strutt & Parker’s National Country House Department, said they have received dozen of enquiries since the property was advertised at the beginning of the month.
He said: ‘Hadlow Tower had £4.5million invested into it so it is both historically fascinating and brand new. It has the best of everything with incredible craftsmanship and every modern benefit.
‘This tower is a masterpiece and we’ve already had dozens of enquiries about it including foreign buyers.’