West Somerset Specials
(Taunton St. Mary, about 1503, but rebuilt in 1862 as an accurate copy; North Petherton, about 1508; Wellington about 1510; and Kingsbury Episcopi, about 1515)
| Name of church | Photograph | Listed building grade | Year tower built | Height | Location | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of St Martin | A !I | c. 1515 | 99 feet (30 m) | Kingsbury Episcopi 50°59′08″N 2°48′10″W / 50.985556°N 2.802778°W / 50.985556; -2.802778 (Church of St Martin, Kingsbury Episcopi) |
This tower is made of stone from nearby Ham Hill. Pevsner describes the chancel and chapels of the church as "gloriously lit" and advises visiting on a fine morning. He writes that the nave is older than the rest of the church, "no doubt of before 1400, and not yet infected with the later exuberance" of the Late Perpendicular style of the tower and other parts of St. Martin's. Poyntz Wright suggests the west tower was built in 1515. | ||
| St Mary the Virgin | A !I | c. 1508 | 120 feet (37 m) | North Petherton 51°05′32″N 3°00′53″W / 51.0922°N 3.0148°W / 51.0922; -3.0148 (Church of St Mary, North Petherton) |
This minster church has a highly decorated tower. The building is mainly dated from the 15th century, with a minstrel gallery from 1623, a peal of six bells, and a clock built in Bridgwater in 1807. | ||
| Church of St. Mary Magdalene | A !I | c. 1503 | 163 feet (50 m) | Taunton 51°00′59″N 3°06′00″W / 51.0163°N 3.1001°W / 51.0163; -3.1001 (St Mary Magdalene, Taunton) |
Built of sandstone more in the South Somerset style, preserves an attractive painted interior, but its most notable aspect is its 15th and 16th century tower (rebuilt in the mid-19th century), which is one of the best examples in the country. It was described by Simon Jenkins, an acknowledged authority on English churches, as “the finest in England. It makes its peace with the sky not just with a coronet but with the entire crown jewels cast in red-brown stone.” The tower itself has 12 bells and a clock mechanism. Two of the hammers on the clock mechanism are not striking. | ||
| Church of St John the Baptist | A !I | c. 1510 | Wellington 50°58′44″N 3°13′44″W / 50.9788°N 3.2288°W / 50.9788; -3.2288 (Church of St John the Baptist, Wellington) |
The 15th century church includes a monument to John Popham. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Somerset Towers
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