Chanter’s Folly, which over the years has faced up to storm and tempest unaided,

and provided an object of landscape beauty and interest to thousands, met its doom under blue skies and mist-dispelling sunshine.

Comparatively few spectators were about, as it was not generally known that demolition was to take place. Mr S Woolaway, of Messrs Woolaway and Sons, personally supervised the operations. During the afternoon, a number of pedestrians came to view the scene, including some older Appledorians who recalled the days gone by when a fair used to be held within the old quarry, and at one time some half a dozen Appledore mothers with their perambulators were foregathered looking up at the empty spot.

Though with the passage of time younger generations will not miss it, most of the older generation will regret the passing of this old and picturesque landmark and ‘friend.’

Friends of Bideford Society might have started fund

Criticism of what he called 'the indecent haste' with which Chanter's Folly had been demolished by its new owners, especially in view of the fact that it was known the Society was earnestly considering ways and means of preserving the tower, was voiced by the President, Mr Vernon C Boyle, at the meeting of the Friends of Bideford Society at the Rose of Torridge Cafe, Bideford.

Introducing the question of Chanter's Folly to the meeting, the President said members would know that it was 'all over bar the shouting' but possibly there should be some shouting. Mr J Andrews thought the first point the meeting had to be clear on was whether the people who had arranged the demolition had been legally entitled to do so. There was little doubt that the owners were legally entitled to take the action they had, said the secretary, Mr W Thornton. He went on to point out that on the information appearing in the press that the former owner had been served with a notice by Northam Council that the tower was a dangerous structure and should be demolished, he had written to the Urban Council stating that, although it was late in the day, the Society would be willing to cooperate with the Council in an attempt to save the Folly. Receiving no reply, he had then written to the former owner, Mr J C Moore, of Wooda, Northam, inviting him to attend the meeting that evening. Mr Moore had replied that during the past week he had luckily been able to come to an agreement with the Barnstaple Brick and Tile Company whereby they had taken over the Folly and adjoining quarry.

'Chanter's Folly was here today and gone today' continued the secretary. Mr Andrews suggested the only thing the Society could do was to censure those who had pulled down the tower. 'I don't think we can censure them' said the secretary.

Gazette article dated 31 October 1952 and 21 November 1952