S  e  v  e  r  n  d  r  o  o  g
C  a  s  t  l  e



Walk around London looking for a lone folly on a hilltop that has the usual lure and romanticism attached to these structures, and you will be rather disappointed. Any large area of land capable of providing the necessary backdrop has long been swallowed up by developers. There is however one rather fine Grade 2* listed tower that is hanging on literally by 'the skin of its teeth', against being taken over for commercial use.

Severndroog Castle is to be found in Castle Woods on Shooters Hill SE18, and was built by Lady James the widow of Sir William James who died in 1783 at Park Farm Place, which was once located in the surrounding area.

Photo Submitted by, and Copyright of :- Janice White.
Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust    

The 60 foot tall brick built tower was designed by William Jupp and erected in 1784, it being triangular in shape with a hexagonal turret at each corner. The original function was as a Belvedere with, it is said, magnificent views over London from the top.

An inscription on the tower states.....


( The Capitalization of letters is how the inscription appears )


This building was Erected MDCCLXXXIV by the
Reprefentative
of the late
WILLIAM JAMES Bart.
To commemorate that Gallant Officer's
atchievements(sic) in the
EAST INDIES
during his command of the Company's Marine
Forces in thofe Seas
And in a particular manner to Record the
Conqueft of
The CASTLE of SEVERNDROOG off the COAST of
MALABAR
which fell to his Superior Valour and able
Conduct
on the 2nd Day of April MDCCLV

To save the poorer educated (like myself) reaching for the atlas, Malabar is off the SW coast of India. England's overseas trade at that time was based heavily on spice and tea shipped by the East India Company (EIC), and pirates were a huge obstacle to trade. The EIC even paid a ransom, or bribe, to the pirates at one stage just to be able to trade in the area uninterrupted.
Later though things came to a head and Sir James was given the task of bringing the unhappy saga to an end. The pirates stronghold called Severndroog was on the island of Vijayadurg located south of Bombay, from where over 20 bases were controlled from. In 1755 Sir James overthrew and captured their leader, a chap called Toolaji, and so became the hero of the Company.


The future of this magnificent and historical tower is now uncertain as the owners, Greenwich Council, wish to lease the tower and surrounding woodland to Mount Anvil who are a property developing company.

There is strong opposition locally to this understandably, and a grant of lottery money to the sum of £5000 has been made to the Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust    for a study into restoring and managing the tower as a public building.
You will find not only news of how their quest is progressing, but also some interesting vintage photographs and reminiscences of the tower in less troubled times, and of course they will be glad of your support.

Photo Submitted by, and Copyright of :- Janice White.
Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust

Link to Severndroog's OWN Website

Co-Ords: 543206E 176185N / TQ 432761   

Bookmark this Page    

Reproduction of part or all of the contents of any of these pages is prohibited except to the extent permitted below.
These pages may be downloaded onto a hard disk or printed for your personal use without alterations. Any other use needs consent of the web site owner Mr C Curtis :- see Contact Page. These pages may not be included in any other work or publication, or be distributed or copied for any commercial purpose except as stated above.