A folly mirroring a historic Wiltshire home has been approved, despite objections over farmland use.

A country house in Oare, Wiltshire, once home to Royal portrait artist John Merton, has been approved for a new folly on adjacent land. The structure, mirroring the 1962 Italianate-style property’s flint walls, circular window, and palisaded roof, will stand up to 4.2 meters high with four niches for statues. The project, approved by Wiltshire Council, includes a change of land use from agricultural to domestic, which faced opposition from Oare Parish Council citing sufficient existing garden space and concerns over farmland conversion. The applicant, represented by an agent, has not been publicly identified, and no timeline for construction was provided.