Henry's Marani

A Victorian folly that looks like it's been plucked from someone's fever dream sits just outside Hassocks. Henry's Marani is an octagonal tower, brick-built and utterly peculiar - the sort of thing that makes you wonder what its creator was actually thinking. Built in the 1880s by a chap with more money than sense, it stands as a reminder that not all Victorian eccentricity was confined to London.

You can't go inside - it's private property - but the exterior is distinctive enough to warrant the short detour from Hassocks. The real appeal is in the strangeness of it all. Why an octagon? Why here? There's no plaque, no heritage board, just this odd brick tower doing its thing in the Sussex countryside. Architecture enthusiasts will appreciate the craftsmanship, even if the overall concept remains baffling.

This isn't a full day out. Pop past if you're based at Blackberry Wood or Southdown Way, both within a mile or so, or fit it into a longer walk around the South Downs. It works best as a curiosity break rather than a destination in itself. Kids might find it mildly interesting for five minutes before asking what it actually does. Photographers will get something unusual for their collection.

The walk from Hassocks takes maybe 20 minutes on foot. Free to view from the outside. Go midweek if you prefer fewer walkers about. It's the sort of spot that reminds you why the English countryside is full of odd surprises.