Located at the heart of Shooters Hill, Severndroog Castle occupies a commanding position within the ancient Castle Wood in Greenwich, all whilst offering visitors a hot brew, delicious cakes and a slice of local history about one of Greenwich’s most quaint landmarks, writes Frankie Hills...
The castle is a beautifully preserved Grade II* listed 18th-century Gothic tower which was built on the orders of Lady James of Eltham in 1783, to commemorate the passing of her husband, Commodore Sir William James.
The tower was designed by architect Richard Jupp, with construction starting 1784, with the first stone being laid on 2nd April of that year.
As part of the commemorations to Sir William James, the castle itself is named after his most famous exploit during his naval career.
On 12th April 1755, James and his men captured the Suvarnadurg fort (the golden fort) on the west coast of India, as part of anti-piracy operations within the region, with this action contributing to his eventual rise as director of the East India company.
These days the castle is open to the public and offers visitors an assortment of refreshments and baked goods in its tea rooms, which are hosted on the ground floor.
Visitors can also purchase tickets to gain access to the upper levels of the facility, which includes a more in-depth look at the castle’s history and to its viewing platform which provides a stunning view across the Thames from Shooters Hill, though this is only accessible on Sundays.
Additionally, the castle also hosts a variety of events. There is a farmers market hosted at the first Sunday of every month and singer-songwriter Mark Newlove will be performing an acoustic set at the castle on the 6th March.
Tickets are £3.50 for children and £5 for adults.
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The tea rooms opening times vary, operating only between 9am-3:30pm Thursday to Sunday.
More details are available at the Severndroog Castle website, which can be found here:
