The tower was built about 1765–1770 by John Norris, a prosperous merchant and a member of the landed gentry who owned land and property in Warwickshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and in Islington, and was High Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in 1775.
He had two manors, Hawley Place in Hawley, Hampshire and Hughenden Manor in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
 The tower is situated on top of a hill, about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Norris' house in Hawley.
At the time of its construction the town of Camberley had not yet been founded, and the area was open heathland.
The hill on which the tower is situated overlooks the A30 road, which during the 18th century was the turnpike road between Exeter and London.
 The tower was the only conspicuous building in the area, and was a well-known landmark during the 18th and 19th centuries.

In 1801, the common on which the tower was located was enclosed, and the land around the tower was assigned to James Laurell of Frimley Park.
However, Norris's eldest son, John Norris (d. 1848), who had inherited his father's lands and properties, gave Laurell four acres of farmland in Frimley in exchange for the land surrounding the tower.

In 1812, the Royal Military College was established at Sandhurst on the other side of the turnpike road, and a settlement known as Cambridge Town (later becoming Camberley) grew up in the area to the west of the tower.
During the 19th century cadets from the military college were required to climb up the hill to the tower as part of their surveying exercises, and the inner and outer walls of the tower are covered with graffiti carved into the bricks by cadets.

By the second half of the 19th century the tower had been incorporated into the grounds of a large house called The Knoll, which was used as a private girls' school during the early 20th century.
At the start of the 1880s a campfire belonging to some gypsies camping at the tower had set fire to the wooden staircase, and the tower had become dangerously damaged.
In 1882 the owner of The Knoll had the top section of the tower demolished in order to make it safe.

During the 20th century the hill on which the tower was situated became overgrown with trees, hiding the tower from general view.
The tower opened to the public again in 2000 when Camberley Park was created.
The tower was built about 1765–1770 by John Norris, a prosperous merchant and a member of the landed gentry who owned land and property in Warwickshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and in Islington, and was High Sheriff for Buckinghamshire in 1775. He had two manors, Hawley Place in Hawley, Hampshire and Hughenden Manor in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.  The tower is situated on top of a hill, about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Norris' house in Hawley. At the time of its construction the town of Camberley had not yet been founded, and the area was open heathland. The hill on which the tower is situated overlooks the A30 road, which during the 18th century was the turnpike road between Exeter and London.  The tower was the only conspicuous building in the area, and was a well-known landmark during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1801, the common on which the tower was located was enclosed, and the land around the tower was assigned to James Laurell of Frimley Park. However, Norris's eldest son, John Norris (d. 1848), who had inherited his father's lands and properties, gave Laurell four acres of farmland in Frimley in exchange for the land surrounding the tower.
In 1812, the Royal Military College was established at Sandhurst on the other side of the turnpike road, and a settlement known as Cambridge Town (later becoming Camberley) grew up in the area to the west of the tower. During the 19th century cadets from the military college were required to climb up the hill to the tower as part of their surveying exercises, and the inner and outer walls of the tower are covered with graffiti carved into the bricks by cadets.
By the second half of the 19th century the tower had been incorporated into the grounds of a large house called The Knoll, which was used as a private girls' school during the early 20th century. At the start of the 1880s a campfire belonging to some gypsies camping at the tower had set fire to the wooden staircase, and the tower had become dangerously damaged. In 1882 the owner of The Knoll had the top section of the tower demolished in order to make it safe.
During the 20th century the hill on which the tower was situated became overgrown with trees, hiding the tower from general view. The tower opened to the public again in 2000 when Camberley Park was created.
Camberley Obelisk