Update
The Tower was opened by the FoHCT from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 22nd September as part of the Open House London weekend. Despite the threatening weather the event was a great success with requests to climb the tower again heavily oversubscribed – eleven groups were given guided tours and a short verbal history, a total of 165 visitors compared to 110 visitors in 2017 – a 67% increase.
Careful management by the Friends and staggered tour times allowed two parties to be guided in the tower simultaneously without meeting on the stairs! The Chapel hosted an exhibition of the Tower and Churchyard history where FoHCT merchandise and Bridget Cherry’s excellent book ‘The Ivy Mantled Tower’ was available together with a tea and cake stall. We were pleased that for the first time The Tower was recommended in Time Out’s feature on the event as one of the top six towers in London and one of only three pictured.
Although there can be no charge for entry due to the terms of the Open House event, the FOHCT collected a grand total of £270 from donations, merchandise and teas/cakes. Thanks go to everybody involved in running of the event and preparing the Tower, Exhibition, Garden of Remembrance and Churchyard.
