WEOLEY CASTLE

Worcestershire

Standing, a little unfortunately, today in the middle of a housing estate in Selly Oak, a southern suburb of Birmingham, Weoley Castle comes as something of a surprise to most visitors.

Until the 1930s only a few bits of masonry were visible.  When the housing estate was built a full excavation uncovered the quite considerable remains.  Like Dudley Castle, Weoley received a licence to crenellate granted to Roger de Somery in 1264.  However, again like Dudley, it is unlikely he did much about this as he was arrested and executed almost immediately afterwards. The likely builder was his son, Roger, around 1270.  The Castle follows the usual quadrangle plan, with a gatehouse in the north-west corner.  The towers on the curtain wall were square, unsual for its time when rounded towers were the norm.

The Castles fate is uncertain, but it did still exist in 1424 when a survey was carried out.

The Castle is open on very peculiar days during the summer - making this already obscure Castle a little more obscure still.

Back to Castles of Worcestershire Page

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2019