You needn't have read Tolkien's famous Lord of the Rings trilogy, or perhaps even have seen the films, to know who he is and to have heard of the famous Two Towers that overlook his fictional Middle Earth: Minas Morgul and Orthanc.
Tolkien spent much of his childhood in Birmingham and it is thought that the two towers were inspired by two buildings that he would have been landmarks in his childhood memories of Stirling Road: Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.
Built in 1758, Perrott's Folly is a 96 ft tall Georgian tower and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, which stands close by, a grand Victorian building with distinct Gothic architecture. You can see why both towers would have caught any one's imagination.
Perrott's Folly that once towered magnificently 139 narrow steps above a large park is now said to sway in strong winds and has rarely been opened since it was closed in 1979, has just been bought... for £1. Yup, no missing zeros - one single pound.
It's been bought by Trident Reach, The People Charity, who have reopened the tower for Birmingham's citizens and Tolkien pilgrims the world over after raising a million pounds to restore the historic landmark. The mastermind behind this project, Ben Bradley, is hoping that it will eventually be more than just a pit-stop on the tourist trail and instead grow into a place for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Tolkien spent much of his childhood in Birmingham and it is thought that the two towers were inspired by two buildings that he would have been landmarks in his childhood memories of Stirling Road: Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.
Built in 1758, Perrott's Folly is a 96 ft tall Georgian tower and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, which stands close by, a grand Victorian building with distinct Gothic architecture. You can see why both towers would have caught any one's imagination.
Perrott's Folly that once towered magnificently 139 narrow steps above a large park is now said to sway in strong winds and has rarely been opened since it was closed in 1979, has just been bought... for £1. Yup, no missing zeros - one single pound.
It's been bought by Trident Reach, The People Charity, who have reopened the tower for Birmingham's citizens and Tolkien pilgrims the world over after raising a million pounds to restore the historic landmark. The mastermind behind this project, Ben Bradley, is hoping that it will eventually be more than just a pit-stop on the tourist trail and instead grow into a place for people of all ages and backgrounds.
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