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Brightling, East Sussex, England, High Weald, South East, UK

Mad Jack Fuller’s Follies Walk, Brightling

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Introduction

Brightling, a quiet village in the High Weald, hides a collection of follies built by John “Mad Jack” Fuller (1757–1834). Fuller was an MP, philanthropist, and notorious eccentric whose wealth and imagination left behind a unique landscape of monuments.

This walk follows a loop around Brightling, taking in all six follies: the Pyramid, Tower, Temple, Sugarloaf, Observatory, and Needle.

Here’s a short flyover reel showing the route in OS Maps 3D, with photos of each folly along the way.

See all my mapped Sussex locations

The Pyramid

Standing in Brightling churchyard, the 25-foot Pyramid is Fuller’s own tomb. Legend has it he is buried upright inside, so he could rise facing east on Judgement Day.

The Pyramid jack fuller folly Brightling high weald
The Pyramid jack fuller folly Brightling high weald

Built in 1811, it dominates the churchyard and is the most famous of his follies.

View Brightling Pyramid on Google Maps

The Tower

Brightling Tower rises on a ridge above the High Weald. Built in 1813, it’s said Fuller wanted to watch ships coming into the English Channel — though at nearly 10 miles inland, it seems unlikely.

The Tower jack fuller folly Brightling high weald
The Tower jack fuller folly Brightling high weald

Today the Tower is a striking landmark on the walk.

View Brightling Tower on Google Maps

The Temple

Tucked away in the fields is the Grecian-style Temple. Used for Fuller’s gatherings and amusements, it shows his taste for classical design.

The Temple jack fuller folly Brightling high weald
The Temple jack fuller folly Brightling high weald

Now surrounded by farmland, it adds a surprising touch of ancient Greece to the Sussex countryside.

View Brightling Tower on Google Maps

The Sugarloaf

The Sugarloaf is perhaps the most curious — a conical stone monument with no clear purpose. Local tales suggest it was built to hide the brickwork of a smuggler’s kiln.

The Sugarloaf jack fuller folly Brightling high weald
The Sugarloaf jack fuller folly Brightling high weald

Others think it was simply another of Fuller’s eccentric whims.

View Brightling Sugarloaf on Google Maps

The Observatory

Fuller was a supporter of science, and in 1810 he funded the building of an Observatory on the edge of Brightling.

The observatory jack fuller folly brightling high weald
The observatory jack fuller folly brightling high weald

Though it is no longer in use, the building is a reminder of his patronage of astronomy.

View Brightling Observatory on Google Maps

The Needle

The final folly is the Needle, a tall obelisk standing stark on the hill. Its purpose remains uncertain — perhaps to mark an estate boundary, or perhaps simply to bewilder posterity.

The needle jack fuller folly brightling high weald
The needle jack fuller folly brightling high weald

Whatever the reason, it completes the set of follies around Brightling.

View Brightling Temple on Google Maps

Practical Info

  • Location: Brightling, East Sussex, in the heart of the High Weald.
  • Access: The follies are scattered around the village; OS Maps or a GPS route is recommended. Parking is possible in Brightling village.
  • Best Time to Visit: Spring through autumn for clear paths and views across the High Weald.
  • Nearby:
    • Burwash — village linked to Rudyard Kipling.
    • Bateman’s — Kipling’s former home, now National Trust.
    • Socknersh Manor — a historic 17th-century house just outside Brightling.