Weoley Castle
The ruins at Weoley Castle are over 700 years old and are the remains of the moated medieval manor house that once stood here. The site has been inhabited from the 12th century and, according to the Doomsday Book, was part of the estates of William Fitz Ansculf.
Although often referred to as a castle, these ruins are the remains of a medieval manor house, once surrounded by a wide, water filled moat. What you see today dates mostly from the 1270’s, when the Lords of Dudley were given permission by the King to build and fortify their castle in stone. It was called a castle because it had a moat, curtain wall, towers, battlements and arrow slits. However, it did not have a keep or the defensive position required by a castle as it is located in a valley. The Bourn Brook that once fed water into the moat flows today in a culvert under your feet.
Excavations have revealed the wealthy status of the castle’s occupants. Finds have included glass from Syria and a range of kitchen equipment. Some of the objects can be seen at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Wildlife at Weoley Castle
Today Weoley Castle ruins provide a home for a rich collection of wildlife. The mixture of semi-natural woodland, grassland, scrub, hedgerows and deadwood provide ecological interest and habitat diversity. Within two kilometres of the site there are numerous wildlife corridors, such as the Dudley Number 2 Canal and the Bourn Brook, which enable a far ranging movement of species.
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) has long been associated with the castle. Fox skulls have been found in the undergrowth around the medieval fish-ponds.
VSITITORS INFORMATION:
Disabled Access
The viewing platform at Weoley Castle is on one level so can be easily reached using a wheelchair.
Direct access to the actual ruins is only available via one of our event days or for groups and schools, by a pre-booked guided tour (t. 0121 464 2193 for further info). The ruins are not suitable for wheelchair access.
Getting Here
Weoley Castle is right at the heart of a major residential area just of the B4121 near Bartley Green.
By Car
From the city centre by car – go through Selly Oak turn right to Lodge Hill cemetery off the A38. Turn left down Weoley Park Road, right down Castle Hill and then left at the roundabout on Alwold Road. The ruins are past the bungalows on your right. There is no designated Parking.
By Bus
Bus No.29 from Edmund Street in the city centre takes about 30 minutes and stops directly outside the ruins.
Address:
Alwold Road
Weoley Castle
Birmingham B29