Perrott's Folly
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Perrott's Folly is a 29 metre (96 feet) tower, built in 1758. It is a Grade II* listed building in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England.
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History
The tower is one of Birmingham's oldest surviving architectural features. Built by John Perrott, who lived in Belbroughton, the tower still 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. 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
Tolkien lived within a few hundred yards of the tower for much of his childhood. Local lore has long held that Perrott's Folly, along with a nearby tower for Edgbaston Waterworks, were the inspirations for the Two Towers, after which the second volume of Lord of the Rings is named. The windows down the side of Perrott's Folly are similar to Tolkien's sketches of Orthanc, and the waterworks tower has a small section rising above the parapet similar to Tolkien's representation of Minas Morgul.
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.