Designed by John Henry Chamberlain and William Martin around 1870. The chimney (as well as engine house and boiler house) are Grade II listed. The Edgbaston Waterworks tower, alongside Perrott's Folly (along the road), is believed to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's Two Towers in The Lord of the Rings. The site is operated by Severn Trent Water.
Tolkien vibes here! Photographed this, had to edit it a bit. Waterworks folks, fix that window or risk the grasp of Mordor!
Standing in front of the Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, you can just see the top of Perrott's folly. For a moment I imagined I was in Isengard looking towards Minas Morgul. A really nice write up on the two towers can be found on the birmingham city council website.
Driving home from Birmingham and thought we would take a look at these 2 towers that were meant to be the inspiration for Tolkien’s Two Towers. The 2 buildings are pretty awesome. Glad we called in to look.
Apparently inspired tolken in Lord of the rings
The towers of Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks, which is an short distance apart, from each building. This is where J. R. R. Tolkien, lived nearby as a child, going to Edgbaston Boy's Grammar School. He was also the choir boy and parishioners of the near church ,The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, Birmingham after doing some research.
Edgbaston Waterworks Tower Historical landmark in Birmingham, England
Great for Tolkien fans! It is believed that this tower and the other, just one block away, Perrott's Folly, inspired Tolkien for “The Two towers” in “The Lord of the rings”. He would have seen them regularly, as he lived in nearby Stirling Road for a time, and used to worship in Birmingham’s Oratory, founded by Cardinal Newman, which was also very close to them. It is a Victorian building designed by John Henry Chamberlain and William Martin around 1870. The site is operated by Severn Trent Water which is actually simply a chimney, that can be seen clearly from Waterworks Road .
You can find directions to Edgbaston Waterworks Tower by following this map link