Bell Tower Of Church Of St Mary

WEST WALTON SCHOOL ROAD TF 41 SE 2/73 Bell Tower of Church of St. Mary G.V. I Detached bell tower, c.1240-50, restored 1907, further major restoration commenced 1985. Barnack stone. 3 stages, each elevation identical except that north and south arches contain dog tooth, east and west plain. Pierced on all sides to provide walkways with undercut moulded arches on piers with circular responds and 2 orders shafts with moulded capitals and bases. Ground floor with angle buttresses each with gabled arched niche. Stepped polygonal buttresses continue to parapet terminating in crocketted finials. Second stage with arched arcading continuous round buttressing and of 3 bays on flanks of tower where wall plane recessed to provide external wall passage. Centre bay with louvred light, blocked arched lights to right and left. Belfry stage with 2 tiers of continuous arcading, the lower stage interrupted by 2-light Plate tracery window : uncusped lights support spandrel pierced by moulded circle : jambs with 4 orders of shafts, each with dog tooth between and richly moulded and undercut arch. C15 parapet punched with hollow sided diamond motifs within circles. Interior. Each corner pier with segmental- headed doorway leading to conically vaulted room except that to south-east. At south-east the door is blocked but leads to staircase. Occasional pointed lancets mark staircase through storeys. Only floor joists remain to each floor except to belfry stage, where bell frame intact. Interior elevation reflects openings in exterior.

Listing NGR: TF4712613318