Haldon Belvedere / Lawrence Castle

Built in 1788 by Sir Robert Palk, 1st Baronet, the tower was dedicated to his close friend and patron, General Stringer Lawrence (1697–1775). Lawrence spent his retirement at Haldon and was laid to rest in Dunchideock Church, where Palk also erected a memorial in his honour. In recognition of Lawrence’s military legacy, the East India Company commissioned a second monument in Westminster Abbey. Palk himself received a generous bequest of £50,000 from Lawrence’s will.

Standing 26 metres tall, the tower features Gothic windows and full-height circular turrets at each corner. Its triangular design may have been inspired by the tower at nearby Powderham Castle, which in turn was likely influenced by Shrubs Hill Tower (now Fort Belvedere) in Windsor Great Park. Inside, visitors can find a larger-than-life coade stone statue of Lawrence dressed as a Roman general—a replica of the marble original by sculptor Peter Scheemakers, now housed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The interior walls are adorned with three large tablets detailing Lawrence’s distinguished career.

Following the breakup of the Palk estate in 1925, the belvedere was sold at auction for £300 to J. Archibald Lucas and J. B. Orchard of Exeter. It later passed to Mrs Bessie Smith, who sold it in 1933 for £650 to Mrs Annie Dale of Wolverhampton. The Dale family made the tower their home, opening it to the public as a teahouse and gift shop, charging two pence for access to the top. During World War II, the Dale sons—conscientious objectors—were briefly imprisoned before being permitted to contribute to the war effort locally. The tower’s elevated position made it a valuable observation post, and post-war, Mrs Dale received £405 in compensation for interior damage, including wear to the stairs from hobnail boots.

After the deaths of their parents, sons Cyril and Edward Dale continued living in the tower, but with limited resources, they struggled to maintain it. The building suffered further damage, including a lightning strike in 1960 and storm-blown windows in 1990. Cyril passed away in 1990, and shortly before his own death in 1994, Edward transferred ownership to the Stringer Lawrence Memorial Trust. Restoration was undertaken by the Devon Historic Buildings Trust, supported by grants from English Heritage and other sources. The tower was officially reopened on 20 April 1996 by historian and broadcaster Lucinda Lambton. Additional exterior restoration was completed in 2016.

Since 1987, Haldon Belvedere has been designated a Grade II* listed building under the name "Lawrence Castle," preserving its legacy as both a historical monument and a symbol of enduring friendship.