Tolkien's inspiration to create the tower of Minas Tirith in the Lord of The Rings

According to local stories , the local inspirational writer JJRTolkien used his imagination of the two towers near Edgbaston Reservoir , to create the tower of Minas Tirith in the Lord of The Rings, probably whilst he lived for a short time at nearby Sterling Road.

Perrot's Folly on the Waterworks Road , a 30m tower part of a hunting lodge for the estate of John Perrot

and further along the road The Water Pumping Tower.
The waterworks was constructed around the 1870's to supply the growing population of Birmingham with fresh water , is actually a chimney for the enormous steam pumping engine which was used to pump the water up to the reservoir.

both buildings are on the same road and the streetscene was probably more open than today

another view from across the adjacent Edgbaston Reservoir , the towers are on the left side of the picture

Further readings ;
http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/lifestyle/birminghams-hidden-spaces-perrotts-folly-6443429
http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/our-projects/bct-finished/perrotts-folly/

http://visitbirmingham.com/files/2014-06-23/BirminghamTolkienTrailFORWEB.pdf