Other Somerset Towers
Poyntz Wright also uses his systematics to date some small towers: Nempnett Thrubwell at around 1468; Chew Stoke about 1475; West Pennard at about 1482; Charlton Musgrove at perhaps around 1490; Pylle at about 1497; Cloford after 1500. He also pegs three of the smaller towers in the western part of Somerset: Combe Florey about 1499; Fivehead, around 1505; and Langford Budville, 1509. The end of the Perpendicular period in architecture coincides with construction of Ruishton, 1533; Chedzoy, 1539; and Batcombe and Chewton Mendip, around 1540.
| Name of church | Photograph | Listed building grade | Year tower built | Height | Location | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of St. Mary the Virgin | A !I | c. 1543 | Batcombe 51°08′57″N 2°26′38″W / 51.1493°N 2.4439°W / 51.1493; -2.4439 (Church of St Mary the Virgin, Batcombe) |
Dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and was restored in the 19th. The tower contains five bells dating from 1760 and made by Thomas Bilbie in Cullompton. | |||
| Church of St Mary | A !I | c. 1539 | Chedzoy 51°08′04″N 2°56′34″W / 51.1345°N 2.9429°W / 51.1345; -2.9429 (Church of St Mary, Chedzoy) |
Dates from the 13th century. It still bears marks form the forces of The Duke of Monmouth during the Monmouth Rebellion who sharpened their swords before battle. | |||
| Church of St Mary Magdalene | A !I | c. 1540 | 126 feet (38 m) | Chewton Mendip 51°16′34″N 2°34′48″W / 51.2761°N 2.5799°W / 51.2761; -2.5799 (Church of St Mary Magdalene, Chewton Mendip) |
Made of Lias Stone, with a tower of Doulting Stone which was "unfinished" in 1541. The tower contains a bell dating from 1753 and made by Thomas Bilbie. In addition, there is a peal of eight bells by Taylor's of Loughborough. The church, which was started in 1441 by Carthusian monks, incorporates several Norman features including the north doorway. The register commences in the year 560. Near the altar is a stone seat, known as a 'frid' for those, especially criminals, who took sanctuary in the church. The church includes monuments to Sir Henry Fitzroger and his wife who died in 1388 and Frances Lady Waldegrave 1879. The Waldegrave family have owned Chewton from 1553, but did not live in the village until the 1860s. Wade and Wade in their 1929 book Somerset described the church as a "singularly interesting church, which possesses one of the most stately towers in the county". | ||
| Church of St Martin | A !I | c. 1505 | Fivehead 51°00′06″N 2°55′22″W / 51.001667°N 2.922778°W / 51.001667; -2.922778 (Church of St Martin, Fivehead) |
Dates from the 13th century | |||
| Church of St Peter | A !I | c. 1510 | Langford Budville 50°59′56″N 3°16′01″W / 50.9988°N 3.2669°W / 50.9988; -3.2669 (Church of St. Peter, Langford Budville) |
Dates from the 15th century. | |||
| Church of St Nicholas | A !I | c. 1482 | West Pennard 51°08′28″N 2°38′23″W / 51.1412°N 2.6397°W / 51.1412; -2.6397 (Church of St Nicholas, West Pennard) |
Dates from the 15th century. | |||
| St Andrews Church | B !II* | c. 1475 | Chew Stoke 51°21′03″N 2°38′18″W / 51.3507°N 2.6383°W / 51.3507; -2.6383 (St Andrew's Church, Chew Stoke) |
Constructed in the 15th century and underwent extensive renovation in 1862. The inside of the church is decorated with 156 angels in wood and stone, and the church includes a tower with an unusual spirelet on the staircase turret. In the tower hang bells cast by the Bilbie family who lived and worked in the village. | |||
| Church of St Mary | B !II* | c. 1468 | Nempnett Thrubwell 51°20′16″N 2°40′47″W / 51.3379°N 2.6798°W / 51.3379; -2.6798 (Church of St Mary, Nempnett Thrubwell) |
A tower containing five bells. The tower has set back buttresses and two arch bell openings with tracery. The tower is crowned by a parapet with blank arcading, and square pinnacles, it also has a slightly higher stair turret. The late Victorian chancel of 1897 is in the decorated style. Inside the church is a screen attributed to Pugin, although Pevsner is of the opinion the architect is probably Pugin the younger. | |||
| Church of St Mary | B !II* | c. 1505 | Cloford 51°11′40″N 2°23′34″W / 51.1944°N 2.3929°W / 51.1944; -2.3929 (Church of St Mary, Cloford) |
Norman church dates from the 15th century and was rebuilt in 1856. | |||
| Church of St Thomas | B !II* | c. 1497 | Pylle 51°08′39″N 2°33′50″W / 51.1443°N 2.564°W / 51.1443; -2.564 (Church of St Thomas, Pylle) |
Rebuilt in 1868 for the Portman family, but a 15th century tower from the earlier church remains. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Somerset Towers
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