Description

TF6219NW
610-1/10/233

KING'S LYNN
ST JAMES' STREET (South side)
Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens

(Formerly listed as: ST JAMES' STREET (South side) Greyfriars Tower)

01/12/51

GV

I
Central crossing tower of the Church of St Francis Priory, of the Greyfriars Order. Founded c.1230, enlarged c.1300, tower late C14 on C13 masonry courses. Brick and carstone with ashlar dressings. Mendicant plan of a passageway under tower from north to south, conventional east-west chancel and nave arches also. Base comprises crossing piers, C13. Buttresses formed from nave and chancel walls, with set-offs. East and west arches of stone with wave, hollow and roll moulded piers on low polygonal bases. Polygonal capitals and triple-chamfered pointed arches. Staircase within north-east pier. Gabled elements to north and south, roofed with stone slabs, slope up to octagonal two-stage tower, the staircase turret continuing. Between each facet are stepped ashlar buttresses. First stage with two-light transomed Perpendicular windows to each face with cusped ogee heads. Second-stage windows similar but simpler in design. Crenellated parapet enriched with cusped arcading. This tower is the best surviving Mendicant tower in the country exhibiting the under-tower north-south passage, with the exception of St Andrew's, Norwich. Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Listing NGR: TF6201219787

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536458

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)