For this week's Discover feature we take a trip to a tower which is a real hidden treasure of south-east London.

Severndroog Castle is situated in Oxleas Woods in Shooters Hill and has been around for more than 200 years.

What makes Severndroog special?

Severndroog was built for love, in an ancient woodland, and was saved by the community when it was in danger of being sold to developers.

It was built as a memorial to Sir William James whose widow wanted to celebrate his most famous exploit when he attacked and destroyed the island fortress Suvarnadurg, off India, in 1755.

The Severndroog Castle Trust preserved this elegant building as a visitor attraction and intimate venue for the community to use and enjoy.

It is the ‘hidden gem’ on your doorstep, offering captivating views of London and seven counties. The first stone was laid on April 2, 1784 by architect, Richard Jupp.

Are there any rumours of ghosts or famous stories about Severndroog?

There are sadly no ghost stories about the castle, but the area has many.

Shooters Hill was notoriously unsafe as it was a common haunt for highwaymen, and was where a number of highwaymen met their end on the gallows.

As for famous stories, there is an account of a "gypsy party" which took place in 1836. An advert placed by a John Smith on July 12, 1836 invites "the company of his friends to join a select gipsy party... tickets 7/6 each ... to include a cold collation, tea and coffee ... mixed liquors."

What’s the best time to come and visit? Is it suitable for everyone?

Severndroog is amazing year-round, as each season offers a different view and the varied scenery of the surrounding woods. Many prefer the winter view, when the trees are bare, but visiting in the spring offers the chance to see bluebells or daffodils around the castle.

In the summer, of course, there is an amazing series of lates, with the chance to enjoy some music with a glass of wine in the courtyard.

It is suitable for anyone who can climb the stairs to the top, but even those who cannot can enjoy the scenery from the dog-friendly Terrace Tearoom on the ground floor.

Any secrets you can share about Severndroog?

Lady Anne James built Severndroog as a memorial to her husband Sir William James, who was the victor of the Battle of Suvarnadurg, India.

Originally, the lower floor and first floor housed William's trophies of weapons and armour.

Later, the castle was used in a trigonometric survey linking the nearby Royal Greenwich Observatory with the Paris Observatory. A 36-inch theodolite (now in London's Science Museum) was temporarily installed on the roof. The results of this survey led to the creation of the Ordnance Survey in 1791.

During the Second World War, the tower was manned day and night by two observers (special constables) who were in telephonic communication with Whitehall and kept constant lookout for air raiders.

Severndroog Castle is mentioned as “Lady James’s folly” in Sunday Under Three Heads, an essay by Charles Dickens about how the working classes spend their Sundays.

The Castle is open every Sunday, 10.30am to 3.30pm.