‘Do the right thing. This is an insult’

A leading member of a group dedicated to protecting Hadlow Tower has called the raffle-style competition “an insult.”

While many people are buzzing with excitement over the prospect of winning the world’s tallest Gothic folly, others, including the Save Hadlow Tower Action Group (SHTAG), are despairing at the unorthodox sale.

Chairman Caroline Elcombe, already disheartened by the sale of the historic structure at less than a sixth of the price of repairs, has criticised owner Christian Tym for not getting enough visitors through the door and has now slammed the competition too.

Mrs Elcombe and others involved with SHTAG raised more than £50,000 to go towards the tower renovation.

“It’s crazy,” she said. “It’s an insult to the people who have worked hard and raised the money. If he wanted to do the right thing and offer it back on the price he got it for we would find the money to buy it.

“It’s a Grade-I listed monument for god’s sake. It just makes a mockery of everything.”

A spokesman for the Heritage Lottery Fund, which awarded £2.8m in grants for tower repairs, said: “Hadlow Tower was sold to a private owner, subject to a deed of covenant being in place to ensure the tower is adequately maintained and remains open to the public for at least 28 days a year. Maintenance and public access will still be a legal requirement for the next owners.”