Surviving Medieval Free-standing Bell Towers at Parish Churches in England and Wales

Abstract

Between the Conquest and the Dissolution, at least seven cathedrals and eight abbeys constucted free-standing bell towers. This phenomenon, however, was not limited to major establishments for, during the same period, free-standing towers were raised at a number of parish churches—at least thirty survive. This is a phenomenon without parallel on the Continent where, except for Italy, even very few major churches have detached bell towers. The majority of the remaining free-standing towers at parish churches are built of stone, although a few wooden ones have survived (more may have existed). Associated with church buildings which otherwise lacked towers, the detached towers stand in contrast to the great majority of parish churches which favoured a tower attached to the west end of the nave. The gazetteer is preceded by a general discussion with a focus on one of the largest concentrations of such towers, that of Herefordshire.