Tower

Our house is built around an old tower. When we bought the house, the previous owner told us that it was originally the bell tower for a flax farm - which is interesting, and so specific that I think he must have had a good reason for saying it - but until the day I get round to making a trip to the County Archives to look at the old parish maps, I don't have any evidence to prove it.

Anyway, there's a tower in the middle of the house, and a frontage which is the normal kind of Georgian "fur coat and no knickers" affair, and a big extension out back. And six roof pitches - seven if you count the conservatory. It's mad, and it's a money pit, but I love it. And one of the best things about it is the tower, which rises off a big stone plinth with steps down to the hall and the snug; and the main staircase runs up inside it.

None of which is really evidenced by this shot, except that the bookcase you can see is cut into the thick stone wall of the tower; if I'd taken the photo from the first half-landing you'd also be able to see the arched window which is providing the light here, but what I wanted to feature is the bannister rail - mahogany, and probably original to the house, though its swirly lines look more art nouveau than Georgian. This is my contribution to hobbs' new challenge Wide Angle Wednesday, which this week is themed around leading lines.