Severndroog Castle will be restored and opened to the public after being closed for 20 years. Matthew Jenkin has a peek at what awaits visitors.

A CASTLE that has been closed to visitors since 1988 will be restored and opened to the public.

Approaching from the woodland path in Castle Woods, Shooters Hill, Severndroog Castle has a haunting beauty which appears unchanged since it was built in 1784.

But look a little closer and the once proud grade II listed building looks lonely and abandoned with graffiti daubed on its red brick walls and the windows boarded up to protect it from intruders.

The Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust agreed to lease the castle from Greenwich Council in April and aims to bring the castle back in to public use as an educational centre and tea room.

Trust member Anji Petersen acted as my guide and said: “We’re really lucky in this area to have a building like this and people really have a fondness for it.

“It’s quite damaged at the moment, but once it’s being used again it’s much less likely to attract vandals.”

Walking round the castle, it’s easy to see why Ms Peterson and others are so fond of it.

After winding up the central spiral staircase you reach what Ms Petersen calls the period room, which is arguably the most impressive in the castle.

With its original decorative plaster ceiling and gothic arched windows the room is an elegant reminder of the castle’s past.

Unfortunately the second floor room has suffered badly from damp and is in need of extensive renovation.

But for those who are less interested in the castle’s architectural merits, the main reason to vsiit Severndroog is the sweeping rooftop views of London.

Perched high on Shooters Hill, looking down over Kidbrooke, the view stretches out as far as the West End and on a clear day you can just about see the arch of the new Wembley stadium in north west London.

Ms Petersen said: “The castle was never used for defensive purposes but during the war it was used as a look-out point for German bombers.

“Views of the fireworks on Guy Fawkes night will be fantastic and we might open it up especially next year to raise money for renovation.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund has now confirmed a £15,900 grant to support a development plan and earmarked a sum of £256,500 to go towards full restoration costs.

But the trust estimates the full costs of renovation to be more than £300,000 and will now be launching a fundraising campaign to secure the remaining funds.

Currently the castle remains locked and is only opened for two days per year as part of the London Open House event.

But once renovation is complete it will be open for four days a week, making it available for educational visits, community use, and private hire.

Ms Petersen said: “School children and students will be able to use the views from the castle to study everything from woodland wildlife to town planning.

“We hope it will be a focus for art groups as well and we hope to sensitively manage the view by cropping the trees.”