The Towers
HISTORY
The original building was known as The Refuge and indeed provided shelter to the various monks that were fleeing persecution at that time. To this day there remains a priest hole in the cellar as evidence of this.
The house has an illustrious and romantic history dating back to the days of smuggling where casks of liquor were brought in through a trap door on the seawall and then transported via a series of wells to the main part of the cellar. A tunnel had been built connecting The Towers to the George Hotel and the main smuggling operation was overseen by the then resident Governor General of the Isle of Wight, who rumour has it, was promoted from Governor General of New York at a time when protecting The Solent and shipbuilding was more important to England than anything else.
The black squares on the seaward side of the garden wall were painted at the instigation of Captain David Urry who was six times mayor of Yarmouth during the years 1721 to 1740. The idea was that if the French succeeded in getting into the Solent again to attack the island – they had already burnt Yarmouth to the ground on two occasions–they would take it that these painted squares were concealing a battery of guns. Successive owners of The Towers have kept up this harmless deception for over 200 years
Captain David Urry lived in the house which had been rebuilt in 1711 and was followed by his brother Captain John Urry who was in residence until he died in 1801. John Urry was known as a great entertainer and he kept a four oared gig with a crew in uniform on standby so whenever a Naval ship anchored in the roads he would send his boat to invite the captain to dine with him. Despite his lavish entertainment he was most abstemious himself and it’s on record that his own wine glass was made especially thick so that it held very little and prevented him from drinking too much!
After the death of Captain Urry the house was bought by Sir William Symomds chief constructor of the Royal Navy. Later on the house was sold to the Alexander family who reinstated the battlements around the top of the house and the turrets on the roof in keeping with the name of The Towers. The Towers has been owned by the Caulcutt family for two generations.
THE GROUNDS
The gardens at the Towers are unique with fantastic sea views. The garden is meticulously taken care of preserving the ancient rose beds, old fig trees, flora & fauna. The garden also is home to a beautiful sunken landscaped garden, complete with a historic sea wall.
Rosie & Ollie
“The Towers was truly the most magical place to host our reception after getting married at St. James’ Church in Yarmouth. Its unique and impressive façade, beautiful seafront gardens and convenient location ticked all of the boxes. Our 120 guests only had to walk a few minutes from the church before they were sipping Champagne in the sunshine while looking out at the famous Yarmouth Pier, an array of boats and the beautiful Solent.
We felt lucky to arrive by boat using The Tower’s jetty – a real luxury for a British wedding! We were greeted by our guests waving from The Tower’s sea wall, it was a sight we won't forget! Fresh lobsters also arrived by boat onto the jetty before being cooked in front of the guests. The stunning gardens allowed plenty of space for our generously sized marquee as well as outdoor space for musicians, oyster shuckers, an outdoor bar and plenty of seating. Being in the centre of the historic town, it was only a short walk for our guests to return to their accommodation, which was incredibly helpful.
We had the wedding we had dreamed of and benefitted from using The Towers gardens on the following day for a garden party. The Towers is second to none as a wedding location and we would highly recommend it to other couples looking for an unrivalled setting to create an unforgettable day.”
Sam & Andrew
“The Towers is a beautiful and impressive early 18th century home which fronts onto the Solent and even has its own jetty. It is also right in the heart of Yarmouth - an historic harbour town with a pretty church and plenty of eateries and accommodation.
We were very fortunate to celebrate our wedding at The Towers with 120 friends and family. We hosted the reception in a large marquee on the lawns, and launched the celebrations with drinks overlooking the sea - an enchanting start and we partied long into the night!
The Towers is exceptional and offers the beauty and luxury of a high-end hotel but remains relaxed and informal with the opportunity to make your day ‘yours’. You will also benefit from having John Caulcutt onboard - he has a lifetime of experience and talent in hosting remarkable events and he embraces the challenge of making your day memorable and distinct!”
