News Shopper is happy to get readers' letters about memories of bygone years or comments on features. Our piece on Severndroog Castle prompted replies ...

Lucya Szachnowski always writes interestingly, as in News Shopper, April 9, about Severndroog Castle. Further reference, though, seems appropriate on certain points ...

Lady James commissioned Richard Jupp, surveyor for The East India Company, to erect the castle in 1784. He also built her home's west wing, transformed the centrepiece of Guy's Hospital, and designed Lee Manor House, now Lee public library (Sir Nikolaus Pevsner's The Buildings of England London 2: South/1983).

Severndroog is evidently a quaint English representation of the latter part of Janjeera Soowumdroog the stronghold south of Mumbai from where Moorish pirates attacked the Malabar coast trading routes which Sir William James conquered on April 2, 1755, as Commodore in command of the East India Company Marine Forces (Green Chain Walk 2/Second Edition 1991).

Developer Mount Anvil wants the castle for its own site office and Greenwich Council still looks to this company to restore the building.

By contrast, the Severndroog Castle Building Preservation Trust genuinely expresses legitimate local concerns and offers better safeguards for the community interest.

Vaughan Porritt

Hartslock Drive

Abbeywood

I was interested to read about Severdroog Castle. About 30 years ago I lived in Plum Lane, Plumstead, and regularly took my two young children to Oxleas Wood.

The castle, or folly, was run by an elderly couple as a tea room. They had previously run the tea cabin in Shrewsbury Park but had to close it due to frequent vandalism.

My children always enjoyed themselves in the woods and we would often stop for refreshements.

Sometimes, during the afternoon, you could climb to the top of the folly where there was a platform. The views over Kent and London were always wonderful.

During the summer and bank holidays the castle was always busy. The history of the castle's name was on a plaque in the tea room.

I was suprised to read the folly had been left to fall into disrepair. Far too much has been lost over the years. I hope the castle can be saved.

S J Kemp

Howard Road

Dartford

April 30, 2003 17:00