Severndroog Castle

We stopped by here as part of the capital ring walk. This was our planned stop, so we were relieved that it was open (during one of the many phases of COVID lockdown).

We had a couple of coffees, a cream tea (without the tea), and one of THE BEST sausage rolls I've ever tasted (but I'm America - living here 6 years, so please assess that statement as you see fit).

We ate on a bench right outside the folly, but I recommend continue walking for about 60 seconds and there are some more benches with wide open views!

Only 4 stars as I live in north London and I'm not sure it's worth a way out of the way trip, but definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

I am really happy that this "castle" (ahem...it's really a folly...) has been done up and is looking good!

Around four years ago my friends and I walked past here on one of the green chain walks around South London...and we all thought it was a shame that this place was all boarded up and empty. Yesterday, we were walking in the other direction (this time on the capital ring walk...) and it was a lovely surprise to see that it is all in use.

Now they have a café on the ground floor, selling cakes, teas and pretty decent ice-cream.

Apparently if you pay £2.50 you can climb up to the top and explore, and hear about the history of Severndroog. The lady in the tea room also mentioned that it is possible to hire the whole place for events / weddings.

Apparently Severndroog Castle's opening times are 11:00am - 3pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays Oct - March. So pop in if you're wandering along one of South London's pretty walks.

Severndroog castle is not what it's name implies, it is as far from a castle as you can imagine, it is infact a local folly whch was erected in 1784 by Lady James. She built Severndroog after her husband was killed and she wanted to commemorate his capture of the pirate fortress of Severndroog on the Malabar coast of India on the 2nd April 1755. Severndroog has been part of a bbc programme where people voted to save English historical sites as this site is under threat of being closed down and demolished if funding can't be found. Details of which are on the website. I visited this place last summer with my family, they were having a fun day with lots of people dressed as Saxons and there were lots of displays like how to make old iron tools etc. The folly itself is very high and narrow with lots of stair and therefore completely unsuitable for wheelchair users however the surrounding grounds are very pretty and make it worth a visit. You pay a nominal fee to enter the folly but it's free to look around the outside and grounds. Plenty of parking on nearby Shooters hill