Needle's Eye – Brampton Bierlow, England - Atlas Obscura
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Needle's Eye

Brampton Bierlow, England

A folly built to satisfy a gentleman's bet that he could drive his horses through the eye of a needle. 

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Needle's Eye, with a person for scale. Christopher Thomas/CC BY-SA 2.0
Needle's Eye, with a person for scale. Christopher Thomas/CC BY-SA 2.0
The needle from about a mile away along the old carriage road. Dr Alan P Newman (Atlas Obscura User)
Unexplained musket ball marks on one side of the needle. Ozankk/CC BY-SA 3.0
The structure is quite atmospheric at sunset. Dr Alan P Newman (Atlas Obscura User)
Needles Eye, January 2020. Muttley35 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Needle's Eye in Wentworth. Steve F/CC BY-SA 2.0
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An idiosyncratic pyramid arch towers at the end of a tree-lined carriage road in a Wentworth field. Like all follies, it serves no real purpose, but some 300 years ago it helped an aristocrat retain his honor.

Mason John Carr built this 46-foot-tall pyramid under the instructions of the Marquis of Rockingham around 1730. According to legend, the Marquis bet a friend that he could drive his horses through the eye of a needle. He had this standalone “needle” constructed exactly wide enough for a small carriage to pass through expressly to win his wager.

The bet was allegedly only £10, massively less than the cost of building the folly.

One side of the arch is pockmarked by musket balls, which has led some to believe it was the site of an execution by firing squad. This is unsubstantiated and it is more likely it was used for target practice.

Know Before You Go

Drive up the hill on Coaley Lane and near the summit, just before the junction with Street Lane is a pull-in on the right hand side. The public footpath is to the right hand side of the building on the summit (left hand side of the road).

Do not go to the right of the building , this land is private and the trespassing laws are enforced.

follies pyramids architectural oddities architecture
Nearby
Hoober Stand
0.72 miles
Elsecar Beam Engine
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Keppel's Column
2.57 miles
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