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SWAY TOWER
Sway Tower or Folly is situated in the south of Sway village. It was built by
Andrew Thomas Turton Peterson, a Yorkshire born Judge who retired to Sway after a career in
India. 
Peterson built a smaller tower using concrete, which can still be seen in
the woods, about 200 yards north of the main tower.
The main tower is 218 feet high, walls 2 foot thick at the
base and the foundation is 9 foot deep. The tower has 13 floors and a spiral
staircase with about 330 steps. It was built between 1879 and 1885, constructed by local men
from Portland cement and shingle from Milford beach, it cost £30,000. Peterson intended to place a light at the top
but Trinity House did not allow this, as they said it resembled a lighthouse and
could be very dangerous.
In 1906, at the age of 93, Judge Andrew Peterson died and was buried
in his Tower but later his relatives removed his body and reburied him in St.
Luke's Churchyard, Sway. After his death, the building was inherited by his
son-in-law, together with four cottages and seventeen acres.
Sway Tower is Grade1 listed monument. The tower is constructed from mass concrete and not reinforced concrete as used today. It was
restored and let as a Hotel but did not last as such for more than 4 years,
later it was used as a communication mast.
