Severndroog Castle

Severndroog Castle in Castle Wood

Severndroog Castle is a folly designed by architect Richard Jupp, with the first stone laid on 2 April 1784.[1]

While commonly referred to as a castle due to its turrets, it was built as a folly, as can be discerned by its small size and because it has never functioned as a castle. It is situated in Castle Wood, on Shooter's Hill in south-east London in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

It was built to commemorate Commodore Sir William James who, in April 1755, attacked and destroyed the island fortress of Suvarnadurg (then rendered in English: Severndroog) of the Maratha Empire on the western coast of India, between Mumbai and Goa. James died in 1783 and the folly was built as a memorial to him by his widow, Lady James of Eltham.

Designated a Grade II* listed building in 1954,[2][3] the Gothic-style castle is 63 feet (19 m) high and triangular in section, with a hexagonal turret at each corner. From its elevated position, it offers views across London, with features in seven different counties visible on a clear day.

  1. ^ "Severndroog Castle: Sir William James". Severndroog Castle. Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Severndroog Castle,castle Wood Park, Shooters Hill, London". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Good Stuff.
  3. ^ Historic England. "Severndroog Castle, Castle Wood Park (1289792)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 April 2007.