Evesham Bell Tower

Evesham Bell Tower
The Bell Tower from the southeast in April 2022
Evesham Bell Tower is located in Worcestershire
Evesham Bell Tower
Evesham Bell Tower
Location in Worcestershire
LocationEvesham, Worcestershire, England
History
Foundedc. 1207
Founder(s)
  • Adam Sortes (first tower)
  • William of Stow (second tower)
  • Roger Zatton (third tower)
  • Clement Lichfield (present tower)
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I
Designated7 May 1952
StylePerpendicular Gothic
Years built1524−1532
Specifications
Tower height110 feet (34 m)
Bells12 + extra treble + flat sixth (change ringing)
Tenor bell weight35 long cwt 2 qr 20 lb (3,996  lb or 1,813  kg)

Evesham Bell Tower is the freestanding belfry for the town of Evesham, Worcestershire. Originally founded in 1207 by Adam Sortes,[1] the present tower, the fourth to stand on the same site, was founded and built by Clement Lichfield, Abbot of Evesham, as the bell tower for Evesham Abbey in the 16th century.[2] It is the only part of the abbey complex to survive wholly intact.[1][3]

Considered one of England's finest medieval belfries,[1][4] the tower sits in the centre of Abbey Park, alongside the parish churches of All Saints and St Lawrence. Since the Dissolution of the Monasteries, during which Evesham Abbey was almost entirely demolished, the tower has served as the belfry for the town's churches.[1] The tower is the town's most significant landmark and is designated a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England, the highest rating.[2]

The tower has been widely celebrated for its architecture, being possibly the largest and most complete example of a late medieval belfry in the country.[4] The author and historian James Lees-Milne said the tower is "one of the nation's architectural treasures".[5]

  1. ^ a b c d Demidowicz, George (2015). Evesham Abbey bell tower : a documentary and architectural history. Toni Demidowicz. Evesham, Worcestershire. ISBN 978-1-326-35742-9. OCLC 1031831792.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b Historic England. "The Bell Tower, Evesham (1081353)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  3. ^ Worrall, Hannah (3 August 2016). "Iconic bell tower lovingly restored to former glory". Evesham Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Helping to restore the iconic Evesham Bell Tower". Evesham Bell Tower Appeal. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Evesham Bell Tower". Discover Worcestershire. Retrieved 6 December 2022.