Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
In 1758 land owner John Perrott built a 94 ft tower in Edgbaston. At the time the area was fields, woods and countryside. (Photo 1) The tower was octagonal in shape and built on a 2 storey base from standard bricks and stone. The upper 5 storeys were accessed by an external circular stair turret (photo 2). The inside rooms were decorated very ornately with a decidedly hunting theme the rooms are set out with all the comforts of home such as fireplaces and windows for viewing the scenery (photo 3).
No reasonable explanation has ever been given for the building of this tower, though many have been proposed. Among the most popular being that he built it so that he could see his wife's grave some 15 miles away. The problem with that being that Clent Hills were in the way. Another was that he built it so that he might survey his land. The most reasonable explanation being that he built it as a hunting lodge and the tower was used to spot animals.
During the late 18th Century a prominent meteorologist by the name of Follet Osler found a practical use for the building as a weather observatory first used by the Birmingham Midland Institute and later by Birmingham University. By this time the tower had become enclosed by housing and industry (photo 4). In 1979 it closed until 1984 when it was the management of the Tower was taken over by the Perrotts Folly Company in the hopes of restoring it and opening it to the public.
I was involved with a minor part of these works at this time when we demolished some of the surrounding buildings and salvaged the bricks for the new perimeter walls and paving to the yard and also clearing some of the land. Sadly it didn’t take an expert to see that their work was cut out for the new owners as you could put your fist in the cracks in the structure between the staircase turret and the tower. The Perrotts Folly Company managed to open the folly for a short time but even after going into partnership with The Birmingham Conservation Trust. Worries about the buildings safety they forced them to close it again.
I understand that all the safety and structural work has now been completed and the running and management of the folly has now been handed over to Trident Housing Trust a registered charity so let’s hope there are great things to come (photo 5).
If anyone has any information about the original construction, such as costs, architects and builders could they please add it here.
Phil
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No reasonable explanation has ever been given for the building of this tower, though many have been proposed. Among the most popular being that he built it so that he could see his wife's grave some 15 miles away. The problem with that being that Clent Hills were in the way. Another was that he built it so that he might survey his land. The most reasonable explanation being that he built it as a hunting lodge and the tower was used to spot animals.
During the late 18th Century a prominent meteorologist by the name of Follet Osler found a practical use for the building as a weather observatory first used by the Birmingham Midland Institute and later by Birmingham University. By this time the tower had become enclosed by housing and industry (photo 4). In 1979 it closed until 1984 when it was the management of the Tower was taken over by the Perrotts Folly Company in the hopes of restoring it and opening it to the public.
I was involved with a minor part of these works at this time when we demolished some of the surrounding buildings and salvaged the bricks for the new perimeter walls and paving to the yard and also clearing some of the land. Sadly it didn’t take an expert to see that their work was cut out for the new owners as you could put your fist in the cracks in the structure between the staircase turret and the tower. The Perrotts Folly Company managed to open the folly for a short time but even after going into partnership with The Birmingham Conservation Trust. Worries about the buildings safety they forced them to close it again.
I understand that all the safety and structural work has now been completed and the running and management of the folly has now been handed over to Trident Housing Trust a registered charity so let’s hope there are great things to come (photo 5).
If anyone has any information about the original construction, such as costs, architects and builders could they please add it here.
Phil
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]
