Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower is a tower built between 1897 and 1898 by W.V. Gough, located in Bristol. It is constructed from snecked red sandstone rubble with limestone dressings and is designed in the Tudor Gothic Revival style. The tower is square and consists of two stages, featuring diagonal buttresses topped with octagonal finials. It has a weathered plinth, a lower band of square panels, and diminishing bands of ashlar on the lower stage. The middle band displays pointed panels, and there is a machicolated cornice with a pierced balustrade.

On the north side, the doorway has a moulded surround and a plain door, topped by a two-centre arched panel with a gabled label, crockets, and a finial that contains the city arms. This panel is flanked by attached columns with heraldic beasts on top. Similar heraldic panels are found on the other three sides of the tower. The second stage features bowed balconies with moulded bases and pierced balustrades, opening through two-centre arches with gabled hoods similar to the doorway, and tall flanking half-round attached shafts.

At the top, there is an elaborate ashlar octagonal spirelet, with octagonal side finials connected to the buttress finials by flying buttresses. The spirelet has a weathered top with a ball finial and a carved figure. The faces of the tower have openings similar to the balconies, with wrought-iron overthrow arches. Small quatrefoil windows indicate the progress of the stairs. The interior was not inspected. This tower was built to commemorate the fourth centenary of John Cabot's voyage.