Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Ethelberts Tower
Hob Uid: 464569
Location : Kent Canterbury Non Civil Parish
Grid Ref : TR1543057770
Summary : The north west tower of St Augustine's Abbey Church. The construction of two west towers instead of Scolland's plan for the west front appears to have been the conception of Abbot Wido. Excavations have shown that the north tower or Ethelbert's Tower was begun during Wido's abbacy but it is likely that this was not finished until early in the time of Hugh de Fleury (1108-1126). The south half of the tower survived substantially until 1823 when it collapsed. A surviving drawing of 1798 shows that the lower part of the tower corresponded to the new hieght of the nave: above that it rose clear for at least two further stages flanking the gable wall. At its external corners the tower had massive buttresses. The main walls and buttresses were richly decorated with motifs found in English and Norman buildings of the decades around 1100. A number of arches also showed an Anglo-Saxon influence.
More information : [TR 15435777] The Ethelbert Tower. (1) Ethelbert's Tower [NR] (Remains of) (NAT). (2) Additional references. (3-4) Remains excavated in 1955-1957. (5) The north-west tower of St. Augustine's Abbey Church, known as 'the Ethelbert Tower' for reasons unclear, owes its survival to having been retained by Henry VIII at the S end of his 'palace' (TR 15 NE 349). Dating evidence for the tower survives in the form of column bases at ground level and gallery level, of c1100-1130. (6) St Ethelbert's Tower, intact in 1655, N half fell between then and 1722. Most of remainder, except lower part, fell on 16th Oct 1822, the surviving part being demolished as unsafe soon after. Dated c1120-30, the tower was among the most ornate and elaborate examples of enriched Romanesque work in the country. (7) Ethelbert Tower, usually dated as late as 1120-30, probably earlier, c1100 at least up to eaves level, if not to full height. (See Illustration Card for drawings). (8) Additional reference and plan. (See Illustration Card). (9) N side of Ethelbert Tower severely damaged by earthquake in 1692. (10)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : FI ASP 02-JAN-65
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : OS 1/500 1874
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Source Number : 11
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Page(s) : 117
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : 1854 (Le Keux)
Page(s) : 81
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Vol(s) : 11

Source Number : 4
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Source details : Monasticon Anglicanum, Caley's edn, vol 1 120 (W Dugdale)
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : 1978 plan (A Saunders)
Page(s) : 26,27,36
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Vol(s) : 22

Source Number : 6
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Source details : 1982 (H Woods)
Page(s) : 121,124
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Vol(s) : 5 for 1979

Source Number : 7
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Source details : 1955 fig (A Clapham)
Page(s) : 7,18,19,20
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : 1987 pls XI-XV (JP McAleer)
Page(s) : 88-111
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Vol(s) : 140

Source Number : 9
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Source details : Plan KAS Mon IV 1988 (D Sherlock H Woods)
Page(s) : 14-15
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Vol(s) : no.4

Source Number : 10
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Source details : 1988
Page(s) : 9,13
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Constructed 1087-1126
Monument End Date : 1126
Monument Start Date : 1087
Monument Type : Tower
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Demolished 1822
Monument End Date : 1822
Monument Start Date : 1822
Monument Type : Tower
Evidence : Demolished Building

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Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : KE 49
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External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TR 15 NE 227
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Related Warden Records :

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Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :

Historic England Research Records

Ethelberts Tower