Somerset Crossing Towers
Perpendicular style, but built on the four arches at the intersection of the nave and chancel: Axbridge, about 1400; Wedmore base around 1400 and parapet about 1540; Yatton, around 1400; Dunster, 1442; Crewkerne, about 1480; Ilminster 1500 to 1525.
| Name of church | Photograph | Listed building grade | Year tower built | Height | Location | Description | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of St John | A !I | c. 1400 | 100 feet (30 m) | Axbridge 51°17′16″N 2°49′00″W / 51.2877°N 2.8166°W / 51.2877; -2.8166 (Church of St John the Baptist, Axbridge) |
Church was built in the early 1400s, and grew from an earlier building dating back to about 1230. The church is built of limestone and decorated with Doulting stone, while the steps are an interesting example of Dolomitic Conglomerate (pudding stone). The elaborate crossing tower has set-back buttresses rising to pinnacles, and a parapet around the top stage pierced with quatrefoils. There are 2-light bell-chamber windows with a repeating blank window each side. On the east and west sides there are figures of St John and Henry VIII. It holds six bells, one of which dating from 1723 was made by Edward Bilbie. The statue on the east side is that of St John the Baptist. On the west side is a king - perhaps Henry VII, which would place it after 1485. The North aisle ceiling retains some mediaeval painted panels, and amongst the carved bosses is the head of a Green Man, with leaves sprouting around his face. The nave roof is Jacobean and dates from 1636. | ||
| Church of St Bartholomew | A !I | c. 1480 | Crewkerne 50°52′53″N 2°47′33″W / 50.881389°N 2.7925°W / 50.881389; -2.7925 (Church of St Bartholomew, Crewkerne) |
Built in the 15th and early 16th century with earlier origins. The tower is in 3 stages with string-courses between. To the south-east corner, there is a hexagonal stair turret, which is slightly taller than the tower. In 1902, the clock, commemorating the coronation of Edward VII was installed replacing one made in 1802. | |||
| Priory Church of St George | A !I | c. 1442 | Dunster 51°10′57″N 3°26′45″W / 51.1824°N 3.4459°W / 51.1824; -3.4459 (Priory Church of St George, Dunster) |
Predominantly 15th century with evidence of 12th and 13th century work. It was restored in 1875-7 by George Edmund Street. The church has a cruciform plan with a central 4-stage tower, built in 1443 with diagonal buttresses, a stair turret and single bell-chamber windows. | |||
| Church of St Mary | A !I | Between 1500 and 1525 | Ilminster 50°55′38″N 2°54′41″W / 50.927222°N 2.911389°W / 50.927222; -2.911389 (Church of St Mary, Ilminster) |
The large church, which is known as The Minster. The Hamstone building dates from the 15th century, but was refurbished in 1825 by William Burgess and the chancel restored 1883. The tower rises two storeys above the nave. It has three bays, with a stair turret to the north-west corner. The bays are articulated by slender buttresses with crocketed finials above the castellated parapet. Each bay on both stages contains a tall 2-light mullioned-and-transomed window with tracery. The lights to the top are filled with pierced stone-work, those to the base are solid. The stair turret has string courses coinciding with those on the tower, and a spirelet with a weathervane. The tower contains a bell dating from 1732 and made by Thomas Bilbie and another from 1790 made by William Biblie of the Bilbie family. | |||
| Church of St Mary | A !I | c. 1400 | Wedmore 51°13′40″N 2°48′40″W / 51.2277°N 2.811°W / 51.2277; -2.811 (Church of St Mary, Wedmore) |
Predominantly from the 15th century, although some 12th and 13th century work survives. The tower with its set back buttresses, includes triple 2-light bell chamber windows, those to centre are louvred, those to each side blank. | |||
| Church of St Mary | A !I | c. 1400 | Yatton 51°23′06″N 2°49′07″W / 51.385°N 2.8185°W / 51.385; -2.8185 (Church of St Mary, Yatton) |
Often called the 'Cathedral of the Moors' due to its size and grandeur in relation to the village. While the current church was constructed in the 14th century, it is likely that a previous Christian church was located on the same site. The tower has three stages with diagonal weathered buttresses with crocketed pinnacles. There is a south east hexagonal stair turret rising above the parapet with panelled sides to the top, and an open cusped parapet. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Somerset Towers
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