Perrott's Folly

Perrott's Folly, , also known as The Monument, or The Observatory, is a 29-metre (96-foot) tall tower, built in 1758. It is a Grade II* listed building in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England.

History

The tower is one of Birmingham's oldest surviving architectural features. Built in the open Rotton Park by John Perrott, who lived in Belbroughton, the tower now stands high above the local residential and business housing.

Purpose

There are many stories to explain why the tower was built. One is that John Perrott wanted to be able to survey his land and perhaps entertain guests. Or the tower might have been used to spot animals for hunting. Or that he built the tower so that he could see his wife's grave, ten miles away.

Use as a weather observatory

From 1884 to 1979 the tower was used as a weather recording station for the Birmingham and Midland Institute. In 1966 the Geography Department of the University of Birmingham took over the running of the observatory until operations were transferred to the main campus.

The Tolkien connection

It has been suggested [http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/tolkien.htm , but not proved, that the towers of Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks may have influenced J. R. R. Tolkien, who lived nearby as a child, in the writing of The Two Towers, after which the second volume of The Lord of the Rings is named.

Prospects

Due to years of neglect as well as a local earthquake the building is currently unsafe. Large cracks near the base of the tower have been caused by subsidence.

The Perrott's Folly Company was formed in 1984 to renovate the tower and make it accessible to the public. The company has obtained grants from English Heritage and Birmingham City Council to secure the building, but still needs approximately £300,000. In its present state the building has only a few years until it is beyond repair.

In the summer of 2005 work began to stabilise the structure and ensure its survival. The project was being managed by the Birmingham Conservation Trust.

Sources

A Guide to the Buildings of Birmingham, Peter Leather, ISBN 0752424750