Detached Belfry Tower at the Church of St Sadwrn, Henllan, Denbighshire

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.2018 / 53°12'6"N

Longitude: -3.4646 / 3°27'52"W

OS Eastings: 302267

OS Northings: 368190

OS Grid: SJ022681

Mapcode National: GBR 6K.2BWZ

Mapcode Global: WH65P.RSDB

Plus Code: 9C5R6G2P+P5

Entry Name: Detached Belfry Tower at the Church of St Sadwrn

Listing Date: 24 October 1950

Last Amended: 29 June 2000

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1073

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

ID on this website: 300001073

Location: Prominently-sited at the cross-roads, at the NE boundary of the churchyard.

County: Denbighshire

Community: Henllan

Built-Up Area: Henllan

Traditional County: Denbighshire

Tagged with: Bell tower

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History

Medieval church tower, probably of first-half C14 date. Always detached from the church, the tower was placed high on a rock outcrop both to ensure its bells were heard throughout the (formerly extensive) parish, and also perhaps to double-up as a defensive peel tower in times of need. The bell-stage windows were replaced in the C19, probably as part of Richard Lloyd Williams' church restoration programme in 1878.

Exterior

Square, 4-stage tower of limestone construction with sandstone dressings; shallow-pitched leaded roof. The tower has a battered plinth and sits upon a tall rock outcrop. The E face has a pointed-arched primary entrance to the raised first stage; this has heavily-weathered sandstone jambs with counter-changed voussoirs of limestone and sandstone. Old (perhaps original) boarded door, recessed and with upper grille. Approaching the entrance is a flight of 9 parapetted stone steps ascending from R to L. The third (bell) stage has paired pointed-arched lights to each face with horizontally-slatted vents. Crenellated parapet with plain sandstone gargoyles to the front angles (SE and NE); C20 flagpole to the SW corner.

Interior

Plain interior on 3 stages below roof level, with exposed rubble walls and renewed floor boarding to stopped-chamfered lateral beams; ladder-stair access.

Reasons for Listing

Listed Grade II* as a particularly fine and scarce example of a late medieval detached church tower.

Group value with other listed items at the Church of St Sadwrn.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

II Churchyard Walls and Lychgate at the Church of St Sadwrn
Bounding the churchyard on its eastern, northern and southern sides, the lychgate facing E.
II Group of Four Mausolea at the Church of St Sadwrn
Immediately to the E of the Church.
II Group of Three Chest Tombs at the Church of St Sadwrn
Adjoining the E gable of the Church.
II* Parish Church of St Sadwrn including adjacent Cross Shaft
Located at the western perimeter of the village within its own walled churchyard.
II Bryn-y-Ffynon
Located at the western approach to the village, raised up above the road and at right-angles with it; set behind curved rubble forecourt walls with cock-and-hen copings and a central wooden gate.
II 3, School Street, Henllan, Denbigh, LL16 5BA
On the street-line.
II 5, School Street, Henllan, Denbigh, LL16 5BA
On the street-line.
II 7, School Street, Henllan, Denbigh, LL16 5BA
On the street-line.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Detached Belfry Tower at the Church of St Sadwrn

A Grade II* Listed Building in Henllan, Denbighshire