Did you know that Corrin’s Tower is also called Corrin’s Folly? It stands tall overlooking the city of Peel. Let me tell you its story.
Corrin’s Tower was built around 1806. Thomas Corrin owned this hill. He also owned much of the land nearby. This site was one of his favorite places. Next to Corrin’s Tower is a small graveyard. Thomas Corrin laid his wife and two children to rest here. Their graves are marked with stone pillars.
Corrin’s Tower has four stories. A pillar is set in the center. It starts square on the ground floor. As it rises, it becomes more round. It goes all the way to the roof. Memorial tablets and inscriptions mark the ground and first floors. They hold memories of departed Corrins.
Thomas Corrin often stayed on the third floor. He enjoyed reading by a small fireplace. But there’s more to the story. The windows on the east side are blocked up. This happened because ships mistook the tower light. They thought it was the Peel breakwater light.
Many footpaths lead to Corrin’s Tower. Most start from Peel Harbour near the bridge. You can also access it from Fenella Beach car park. It’s a good walk, even if it doesn’t seem far.
The tower is currently locked. But viewing the outside and nearby graves is worth the walk. In 1840, the tower was given to the Board of Trade. Thomas Corrin died in 1845. He wanted to be buried on the hill. His son initially refused. He believed his father should be buried in consecrated ground. Thomas was briefly buried in Kirk Patrick Church Yard.
One night, his friends moved his body to the hill. After that, the son accepted the location. But only after the ground had been consecrated.
Inside Corrin’s Tower, there are twelve memorial tablets. One inscription commemorates Alice Corrin. She died in childbirth in 1806. Another tablet remembers Thomas Corrin who died in 1845.
The tower’s corners point to the four cardinal directions. The entrance faces southeast. A sandstone block serves as the step. The ground floor has two limestone blocks. Two air holes ventilate it.
Originally, there were narrow windows on the east side. They were on the first, second, and third floors. These have all been blocked. Thomas Corrin spent time reading on the third floor. That’s where the fireplace was.
The burial ground is thirty yards from Corrin’s Tower. It was originally enclosed by a sod fence. Later, stone walls replaced it. This was because visitors damaged the fence. Thomas Corrin was associated with Athol Street Congregational Church. He didn’t want to be part of the established church.
So stands Corrin’s Tower. It’s a testament to family and a bit of eccentricity. It is a landmark with a story etched in stone.