Guide To Perrott’s Folly

Built in the open Rotton Park by John Perrott in 1758. Perrott’s Folly, also known as The Monument, or The Observatory, is a 29-metre (96-foot) tall tower. It is Grade II* listed.

Perrott’s Folly, alongside the Edgbaston Waterworks tower (along the road), is believed to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s Two Towers in The Lord of the Rings.

The tower is now managed by Re.Future Collective, a Birmingham based Arts and Architecture Collective.

Perrott’s Folly is a 29-metre (96-foot) tall tower, built in 1758. It has been suggested that the towers of Perrott’s Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks (just round the corner and also worth a look) may have influenced references to towers in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, who lived nearby as a child.

It’s an interesting place to visit – although access inside seems limited to the occasional community access project. I’d definitely take a tour if it was available and check out the views which must be spectacular.

Doesn’t seem like it’s open to visitors. Can’t expect much, as a tolkien fan I was happy to finally see it for myself. A really nice write up on the two towers is on the birmingham city council website.

Excellent location for any Tolkein van. There’s no access to the building but it’s clearly visible from th street.

Nice to check out if you are in the area but there is not much to actually see. It has fences and barriers around it. You can still imagine how it inspired Tolkien.