Essex Church Bell Towers

At the February meeting, in addition to the AGM, Andrew Smith gave a talk about Essex church bell towers of which there are ten situated in the south of the county.

Bell towers differ from belfries because these are built outside the nave wall. These were built using timber because there is very little stone readily available in Essex. Greensted is a recent example, being eighteenth century, but others were built in the late fourteenth and early fifteen centuries.

All were sturdily constructed as can be proved that when landmines fell in the churchyards of Navestock and Stock Harvard in 1940 although the buildings were extensively damaged the framework of the bell tower remained.
The most impressive bell tower in Essex, if not in England, is at Blackmore rising in three stages and tree-ring dated with a construction date of 1400-02. It is currently being repaired and reshingled at a cost of around £250,000. Being a unique pagoda type structure has meant that scaffolding for the job has had to be specially designed.
The church serves teas, usually "in the tower", from the first Sunday in May to October from 2.30 to 4.30pm. This year teas will be served "out of the tower". A church café also operates on a Tuesday from 10.00 to 12.00, and the building is open during daylight hours for visitors (when not required for other events).