Picture a dramatic eighteenth-century gothic tower built by a heartbroken widow in a clearing, high on a hill, in an ancient bluebell wood within seven miles of Charing Cross, London.
This is Severndroog Castle on Shooters Hill, a 60-foot high triangular, brick-built tower designed in the gothic style by architect Richard Jupp. Severndroog is a nationally-listed Grade II* building presently on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register.
Severndroog Castle was built in 1784 as a memorial to Sir William James. His wife Lady James wanted to celebrate Sir William’s most famous exploit when he destroyed the fleet and stronghold of pirates on the island fortress Severn Droog on the west coast of Malabar, India in 1755.