Editing Folly (section)

==Characteristics==
[[File:Hagley Castle (geograph 2291664).jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Castle in Hagley Park|Hagley Castle]] is in [[Hagley Hall#Park|the grounds]] of [[Hagley Hall]]. It was built by [[Sanderson Miller]] for [[George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton|George, Lord Lyttelton]] in the middle of the 18th century to look like a small ruined medieval castle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-156390-the-castle-about-3-4-mile-east-of-hagley |title=The Castle About 3/4 Mile East of Hagley Hall|access-date=4 September 2016}}</ref>]]

The concept of the folly is subjective and it has been suggested that the definition of a folly "lies in the eyes of the beholder".<ref name=Headleyxxi>{{cite book |title=Follies a National Trust Guide |last1=Headley |first1=Gwyn |last2=Meulenkamp |first2=Win |year=1986 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |isbn=0-224-02105-2 |page=xxi}}</ref> Typical characteristics include:

* They have no purpose other than as an ornament.<ref name=Jones1>{{cite book |title=Follies & Grottoes |last=Jones |first=Barbara |year=1974 |publisher=Constable & Co |isbn=0-09-459350-7 |page=1}}</ref> Often they have some of the appearance of a building constructed for a particular purpose, such as a castle or tower, but this appearance is a sham. Equally, if they have a purpose, it may be disguised.
* They are buildings, or parts of buildings.<ref name=Jones1 /> Thus they are distinguished from other garden [[Decorative arts|ornaments]] such as [[sculpture]].
* They are purpose-built. Follies are deliberately built as ornaments.
* They are often eccentric in design or construction. This is not strictly necessary; however, it is common for these structures to call attention to themselves through unusual details or form.
* There is often an element of fakery in their construction. The canonical example of this is the sham ruin: a folly which pretends to be the remains of an old building but which was in fact constructed in that state.
* They were built or commissioned for pleasure.<ref name=Jones1 />