St Leonard's Tower, West Malling

St Leonard's Tower
St Leonard's Tower, West Malling. The church would have occupied the foreground.
Location of St Leonard's Tower
General information
Type	Tower
Architectural style	Norman
Location	St Leonard's Street
Town or city	West Malling
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°17′17.68″N 0°24′6.87″E / 51.2882444°N 0.4019083°ECoordinates: 51°17′17.68″N 0°24′6.87″E / 51.2882444°N 0.4019083°E
Completed	c. 1090
Owner	English Heritage
Technical details
Floor count	Three
Website
English Heritage webpage

St Leonard's Tower is a Norman keep in West Malling, in the county of Kent, England. The tower was built by Bishop Gundulf around 1080. Situated beside Manor Park Country Park, along St.Leonard's Road.

History

St Leonard's Tower was built between 1077 and 1108 by Bishop Gundulf. In 1090, Gundulf also founded St. Mary’s Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine nuns. It probably served as a fortified house (or Castle),^[1] although it is also said to be the tower of the church of St Leonard, which was 70 feet (21 m) long by 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. The church is said to have been demolished for the materials it was made from.^[2] Constructed of ragstone, the surviving tower is 32 feet (9.8 m) square, and 60 feet (18 m) to 70 feet (21 m) tall, being built into a hillside. There were three floors. The tower is a Grade I listed building.^[1][3]

References

1. Historic England. "St Leonard's Tower (392446)". Images of England. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
2. Coles Finch 1925, p. 157.
3. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-392446-st-leonard-s-tower-west-malling

Sources

• Coles Finch, William (1925). In Kentish Pilgrim Land. London: C W Daniel.