The Pepper Pot

This regency tower near Queens Park in Brighton is near where my student children live. It's just been restored and this was the first time I've seen it without scaffolding.

Apparently it was designed and built in 1830 by Charles Barry, who famously also designed the Houses of Parliament. Acording to wikipedia:

its original function is uncertain: theories include a water tower for the villa, a vent for the network of large Victorian sewers beneath Brighton, an observatory or even a folly. Its name, which has historically been used locally and has now been adopted more generally, makes reference to its shape.