Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
1073
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
24/10/1950
Date of Amendment
29/06/2000
Name of Property
Detached Belfry Tower at the Church of St Sadwrn
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Denbighshire
Community
Henllan
Town
Locality
Henllan
Easting
302267
Northing
368190
Street Side
W
Location
Prominently-sited at the cross-roads, at the NE boundary of the churchyard.
Description
Broad Class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Period
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.
Reason for designation
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.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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