About
Layer Marney Tower near Colchester in Essex is the tallest Tudor Gatehouse in the UK, a magnificent building standing 80 feet tall within stunning grounds.
The Tower stands on the shores of the river Blackwater, and construction was initiated by Lord Henry Marney in the 1520s, a close friend of Henry VIII. The Gatehouse and ranges which were continued by his son after his death were supposed to be part of a grand palace, but construction ceased after his son’s death. What stands today is a glimpse into the luxurious aspirations of a 16th-century lord, now a family-run venue that opens its doors to the public at certain times of the year, and it still does not fail to impress.
