Hi All,
I've got a little bit more information about "The Folly" at Blyth. I did see somewhere on researching it, that "1897 map that the folly was likely under what is now 83 Stanley Street" - however, on examining the various maps, I would suggest that it was where 25 – 41 Park Road are. I tried to attach images, but despite only totalling 860kb, the 2nd and 4th were rejected, so I have put them at:
https://sites.google.com/site/williamsmithmariner/the first is from Tithe Award, Plan (31 Dec 1840) and shown on
https://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/007160FS.htm for Blyth
(with permission of the Diocese of Newcastle), I've identified it by a red arrow, it certainly appears to be buildings, [below].
The second image is Blyth Folly shown on the OS six-inch of England & Wales, surveyed 1859, published 1865; there was a windmill at the end of the ropery tract, and the circular item just below the words "Blyth Folly" was likely that;The third shows Folly Road on the OS six-inch 1888-1913; [below]
and fourth I have overlaid with a red star where I think the folly was on a current plan.
The 1841 census shows several families living at the “Folly” being: CHEPPLE, SCOT, ADAMS, GARRET, BROWN GATIS and DUNN and they appear to be living in seven separate dwellings.
My interest in this was that the father of Capt William SMITH (c.1779-1847), Mariner, who discovered Antartic (almost by accident), his father, another William, is mentioned in
Wallace’s History of Blyth, (1856) stated his (William Jnr's) father died, at the Folly, Blyth;
"1824. August 10. Died at the Folly, aged 90, William SMITH, father of William SMITH the discoverer of New South Shetland."