Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The great crossing tower (or Angel Steeple) of Canterbury Cathedral, which later become known as 'Bell Harry' Tower (probably after a bell named after Prior Henry of Eastry, that was first hung in the tower in 1498). The tower is one of the finest and largest towers in England.

Monument Types

• TOWER (Medieval to Unknown - 1433 AD)

Full description

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Major rebuilding works in the Cathedral were undertaken between the late 14th and late 15th century. This work saw the main body of Lanfranc's nave demolished west of the crossing in 1377 leaving the two western corner-towers standing. In about 1430 the old central tower, the large mid 12th century crossing tower (with a golden angel on its top), hence Angel Tower, was demolished. After the re-construction of the new nave, the last major addition to the fabric of the Cathedral was the re-builduing of its central tower or Angel Tower, which was commenced on 4th August 1433, when the first stone of the new work was placed, under the new Prior William Molashe (1420-1438). However, once the crossing piers had been cased up, the work seems to have stopped, and there was probably a temporary boarded ceiling at the high vault over the crossing from c. 1435 to c. 1490.

Archbishop Thomas Bouchier had died in 1486, not long after crowning the new Tudor monarch, Henry VII, and was suceeded by a close personal friend and advisor of the new king, John Morton. This man was also Chancellor of England, and it was his wealth that was to pay for the completion of the central tower.

The great crossing tower (or Angel Steeple) of Canterbury Cathedral, which later become known as 'Bell Harry' Tower (probably after a bell named after Prior Henry of Eastry, that was first hung in the tower in 1498). The tower is one of the finest and largest towers in England. It rises 235 feet above the ground, and its pinnacles are 120 feet above the apex of the roofs. The design of the tower, with large clasping turrets on all four corners, was made by John Wastall, an East Anglian Master-Mason, working under the auspices of Prior William Sellyng. It is an architectural masterpiece but as first designed was only meant to be a latern tower, as at some other cathedrals, like York Minster. Documentay evidence shows that in c. 1494, when the lower stage was nearing completion, having taken about three years to build, a decision was suddenly made to double the height of the tower, and add on an extra upper stage that was over 50 feet high. This may be when Archbishop John Morton was made a Cardinal by Pope Alexander VI in August 1493, and Morton may have doubled the height of the tower as a visual way of showing the world his new status, by capping his cathedral in a spectacular way.

The building accounts for the upper stage of the tower from Easter 1494 to Michaelmas 1497, show that this upper stage was constructed with 480,000 'redde bryks'. Externally, however, the whole tower is faced with Caen stone. The responsibility to complete the works fell to Prior Thomas Goldstone II following Prior Seelyngs death in 1494.

John Newman, 1969, The Buildings of England: North East and East Kent (Monograph). SKE7874.

Blockley, K., Sparks, M. & Tatton-Brown, T., 1997, Canterbury Cathedral Nave, Archaeology, History and Architecture (Monograph). SKE29723.

Sources and further reading