Historic Sedgley Beacon tower set to open to public for first time in four decades - see inside the tower

An historic monument which overlooks the Black Country is set to open to the public for the first time in four decades.

The Sedgley Beacon is set to be opened for people to view inside the tower as part of the Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture.

Sessions will take place on September 11 and 13 and will allow people to stand inside the tower and see the recent repairs undertaken, including the reinstatement of 17 missing stone steps.

While visitors will not be able to go up the steps, it will be a unique opportunity to see inside a Grade II listed tower, which was erected in 1846 on top of Beacon Hill.

A spokesman for Heritage Open Days said: “Sedgley Beacon, located on Beacon Hill, is located to the north of Sedgley town centre and one of the highest geographical points in the West Midlands.

“It forms part of the Limestone Way footpath which connects the beacon to the Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve (NNR), Dudley Priory and Dudley Zoo and Castle.

“The hill is a registered geosite within the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark. Standing on top of the Beacon Hill is the Grade II listed Beacon Tower erected 1846 by Lord Wrottesley using local Gornal sandstone.

“In 2026, Dudley Council partnered with the Friends of Sedgley Beacon to secure funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to undertake a series of repairs at the site which included repointing of the structure and repair of the stonework, installation of new fencing and gates and reinstatement of 17 missing stone steps.

“This will be the first time in c.40 years that members of the public will be able to officially view inside the tower.”

Sessions will run from 10am to 1.30pm on Friday and from 10am to 2pm on Sunday.