An exterior view of Saltwell Tower, showing the east side of the south elevation from...

The house was built for William Wailes, a stained glass manufacturer, in 1871 with dark brick and yellow brick dressings. The south front has two storeys with square corner turrets and a tall three storey polygonal turret on the right. Each floor of the turret has three single windows, one on each side. The main front has a continuous parapet with sloping stone capping and four light recessed windows. In the background is a three storey entrance tower with polygonal stair turrets with a pyrmidal roof. In the foreground are the stairs leading from the garden to the top of the turret.