Skip to content
WordPress site playing up? Vincony fixes it — today, from $5.Get it fixed →
The Great Britain Guide logoThe Great Britain Guide

Follies · West Midlands

Perrott's Folly

Also known as: The Observatory;The Monument

In or near Birmingham.

Free admission🐾 Dog-friendly

Perrott's Folly — Folly or eyecatcher, 1758.

Perrott's Folly, follies in West Midlands

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
20 min–45 min
Nearest railway station
Five Ways · 1.3 km
  • Free entry
  • Dog-friendly

About

Perrott's Folly is a folly — a piece of decorative architecture built more for the view than any practical purpose — in the United Kingdom. OpenStreetMap heritage rating: 2/5. Also known as: The Observatory;The Monument. Wikidata describes it as: "Folly or eyecatcher, 1758.". Coordinates: 52.4744°, -1.9312°.

Photo gallery

From the Wikipedia article

Perrott's Folly, grid reference SP047862, also known as The Monument, or The Observatory, is a 29-metre (96-foot) tall tower, built in 1758. It is a Grade II* listed building in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

Built in the open Rotton Park by John Perrott in 1758, who lived in Belbroughton, the tower now stands high above the local residential and business housing. There are many stories to explain why the tower was built: that John Perrott wanted to be able to survey his land and perhaps entertain guests; or to spot animals for hunting; or so that he could see his wife's grave, 15 mi away. From 1884 to 1979 the tower was used as a weather recording station for the Birmingham and Midland Institute. 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. It has been suggested, but not proven,…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
52.4744, -1.9312
District
Birmingham
Parish
Birmingham, unparished area
Postcode
B16 9PT
Parliamentary constituency
Birmingham Edgbaston
Nearest railway station
Five Ways1.3 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Perrott's Folly📷 3

Observatories · West Midlands

Perrott's Folly

Perrott's Folly — tall tower built in 1758 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

birminghamconservationtrust.org
Tower View - geograph.org.uk - 4665242📷 3

Theatres · West Midlands

ABC Edgbaston

ABC Edgbaston in England West Midlands, United Kingdom.

Oratory View - geograph.org.uk - 4665236📷 3

Memorials & monuments · West Midlands

204-207, Monument Road B16

204-207, Monument Road B16 — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-west-midlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Carlyle Road, Edgbaston - geograph.org.uk - 841290📷 4

Historic houses · West Midlands

Edgbaston Waterworks

Edgbaston Waterworks — a Grade II-listed historic house in england-west-midlands, United Kingdom.

👶
The Ivy Bush, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 2306787📷 7

Restaurants · West Midlands

The Ivy

The Ivy — a restaurant in england west midlands. Cuisine: british. Brand: The Ivy Collection.

Chamberlain Gardens, Ladywood Road, B16 (Train to Tram 26) - geograph.org.uk - 8236910📷 3

Memorials & monuments · West Midlands

276, Monument Road B16

276, Monument Road B16 — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-west-midlands, United Kingdom.

Free🐕

Where to eat & stay near Perrott's Folly

Places to stay

The Birmingham Oratory - geograph.org.uk - 4016251📷 6

Hotels · West Midlands

Plough and Harrow Hotel

Plough and Harrow Hotel — a hotel in england west midlands.

ploughandharrowhotel.co.uk
7 Portland Road, Edgbaston - geograph.org.uk - 6321946📷 7

Hotels · West Midlands

The Garden House

The Garden House — a hotel in england west midlands.

Anstruther Road, Edgbaston - geograph.org.uk - 4124358📷 5

Hostels · West Midlands

Alexandra Residential Club

Alexandra Residential Club — a hostel in england west midlands.

Metropolitan House - geograph.org.uk - 4928731📷 7

Hotels · West Midlands

Park Regis

Park Regis — a hotel in england west midlands.

parkregisbirmingham.co.uk
Brunswick Square - Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 4181070📷 7

Hotels · West Midlands

Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Brindleyplace

Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Brindleyplace — a hotel in england west midlands. 4-star. Brand: Hilton Garden Inn.

hilton.com
Former Royal Orthopaedic Hospital - geograph.org.uk - 7283827📷 7

Hotels · West Midlands

Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street

Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street — a hotel in england west midlands. Brand: Hampton.

hilton.com

Places to eat & drink

The Ivy Bush, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 2306787📷 7

Restaurants · West Midlands

The Ivy

The Ivy — a restaurant in england west midlands. Cuisine: british. Brand: The Ivy Collection.

New Garden Square development in Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 7504955📷 5

Historic pubs · West Midlands

The Plough And Harrow

The Plough And Harrow — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

Free🐕
Fairlawn, Edgbaston - geograph.org.uk - 8009448📷 5

Restaurants · West Midlands

Simpsons

Simpsons — a restaurant in england west midlands.

The White Swan📷 5

Historic pubs · West Midlands

The White Swan

The White Swan — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

Free🐕thewhiteswanpub.com
The Fiddle and Bone Pub, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 1835761📷 3

Historic pubs · West Midlands

The Distillery

The Distillery — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

Free🐕
The Bull's Head📷 4

Historic pubs · West Midlands

The Bull's Head

The Bull's Head — Historic pub — listed building or notable heritage status.

Free🐕thebullsheadbarnes.com

More follies in this region

St Eadburgha's Church - geograph.org.uk - 2348088📷 3

Follies · West Midlands

5 Tomb Chests

5 Tomb Chests is a folly in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Grazing land at Baughton Hill Farm - geograph.org.uk - 2444879📷 3

Follies · West Midlands

Baughton Tower House

Baughton Tower House — Folly or eyecatcher.

Free🐕
Bollitree Castle - geograph.org.uk - 487246📷 3

Follies · West Midlands

Bollitree Castle

Bollitree Castle — Folly or eyecatcher.

Free🐕
Broadway Tower📷 5

Follies · West Midlands

Broadway Tower

Broadway Tower — Folly or eyecatcher, 1798–1799.

🐕👶broadwaytower.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where is Perrott's Folly?
Perrott's Folly is in the West Midlands, United Kingdom (postcode B16 9PT), in the parish of Birmingham, unparished area.
What is Perrott's Folly?
Perrott's Folly — Folly or eyecatcher, 1758.
How do I get to Perrott's Folly?
The nearest railway station is Five Ways, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode B16 9PT.
Is Perrott's Folly free to visit?
Yes, Perrott's Folly is free to enter.
How do I get to Perrott's Folly?
The nearest railway station is Five Ways, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode B16 9PT.