The Vivat Trust (Vivat) is delighted to announce today that the restoration of Hadlow Tower- the Grade I listed gothic revival folly in Kent- is complete and holiday guests will be able to stay there from May onwards. This historic landmark offers luxury holiday accommodation for six and joins the Vivat Trust's portfolio of historic holiday properties. Accommodation starts on the first floor of the tower and includes a kitchen and octagonal dining room, a sitting room with wood burning stove, a twin bedroom and separate bathroom, and a double height master bedroom with a bed ringed in by columns and a bathroom suspended above on an inserted floor. A lift suitable for wheelchair users offers access to the first three floors, including direct access to a double bedroom and wet room. 

The ground floor of Hadlow Tower will provide exhibition space where the history of the building and its significance will be explained. This space will be opened to the public on a regular basis and access to the viewing platform at the top of the lantern will be offered on Thursdays between May and September. The exhibition is an initiative organised by the SAVE Hadlow Tower Action Group. 

The campaign to save this building- identified by English Heritage as a longstanding building at risk-and provide it with a sustainable new use, has been on-going for a number of years. In 1998 it joined the WMF's List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World. And following confirmation of a compulsory purchase order in March 2008, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council took the building into their ownership and subsequently entered into a back to back agreement with the Vivat Trust with the trust becoming the owners in February 2011. 

Vivat Trust Director, Laura Norris, says: "The Vivat Trust has lived with the shadow of the pre-restored Hadlow Tower for over thirteen years now. It has been, at times, an uphill struggle for us but I am incredible proud of both the staff and trustees who have stuck with the project and achieved such a beautiful result. Hadlow Tower is a building many people and organisations gave up on. It means so much to know that this amazing nonsense will be around, and dominating the horizon, for many years to come. "

Julie Beilby, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council's Chief Executive, says: "It is great to see that this wonderful building has at last been restored to its former glory. The Borough Council has been working in close partnership with Vivat and others for many years and is delighted to have played a part in this ambitious project. Congratulations to Vivat and to everyone who has contributed to safeguarding this historic landmark for future generations to admire and enjoy."

The work to restore the tower and create the holiday accommodation, started in February 2011, and cost a total of £4. 2million. Contractors Mansell Construction Services, as well as a number of specialist sub-contractors carried out the works, which include the reinstatement of the pre-cast and moulded decoration, and the missing lantern. Thomas Ford & Partners developed the architectural designs for Vivat. 

Liam Duffy, Managing Director of Mansell's London Refurbishment Delivery Unit, says: "We are extremely proud to have used Mansell's specialist heritage skills in the restoration of Hadlow Tower to create a new and exciting environment within this unique historic monument." The project has received support from major heritage bodies and funders, including £2.6million from the Heritage Lottery Fund with further funding from English Heritage, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Country Houses Foundation and the Monument Trust, amongst others. 

Ian Lush, Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund, says: "The restoration of Hadlow Tower is very impressive and brings great credit to the Vivat Trust. The Architectural Heritage Fund has been pleased to be involved with this project since its inception and looks forward to continuing its long-standing relationship with the Vivat Trust for its next major undertakings."

Caroline Elcombe from the SAVE Hadlow Tower Action Group, says: "We are truly delighted that Hadlow Tower has been restored so beautifully, the campaign that SHTAG have run over the last 12 years has been worth the work to see this magnificent building once again shining in the sunshine to be admired and enjoyed for years to come."

Inspired by Beckford's Fonthill Abbey, the Tower was built in 1838, as part of Hadlow Castle, by Walter Barton May who inherited the building project from his father. Built of brick and clad in a roman cement render, the exterior of the tower was originally richly adorned with intricate gothic revival ornamentation made from pre-cast roman cement.  Roman cement was developed in Kent in the 1780s.  Whilst the tradition of using this material has fallen out of use in this country, it has continued on the continent. Materials for this project were imported from France.

In 1951 the tower was saved from demolition by the portrait painter, Bernard Hailstone, while the rest of the castle was dismantled. Following years of neglect, storm damage and controlled down-takings, the tower became an unadorned stump.

Notes to Editors:

Press Day is Thursday 11th April, 10am onwards at Hadlow Tower, High Street, Hadlow, Kent, TN11 0EG. Please note there is NO parking available within the tower grounds. A bus will leave Tonbridge Station for Hadlow Tower at: 09:55 & 14:00.

If you would like attend the press day, please rsvp to bronwyn@vivat-trust.org or call 01981550753.