Round-tower church facts for kids
Round-tower churches are special churches with a circular tower instead of the usual square one. You'll find most of them in England, especially in a region called East Anglia. Out of about 185 such churches left in England, 124 are in Norfolk and 38 are in Suffolk. A few others are in Essex, Sussex, Cambridgeshire, and Berkshire.
These unique churches aren't just in England! About 20 similar round-tower churches have been found in Germany. Other countries like Andorra, Denmark, France, Italy, and Sweden also have at least one.
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Why Are Some Church Towers Round?
Experts aren't completely sure why so many churches in East England have round towers. But they have some interesting ideas!
Building with Flint Stone
One idea is about the building materials. In areas where round-tower churches are common, there wasn't much regular building stone. So, builders used a material called flint. Flint is a hard stone that breaks into sharp pieces. It's really hard to make neat, strong corners with flint. Building a round wall is much easier and stronger when using flint. This might be why the towers were made round and thick.
Protection from Invaders
Another idea suggests these churches were built for defense. Long ago, places like East Anglia faced attacks, for example, from Vikings. Some people think the round towers were strong forts, and the church part was added later. However, this idea might not be true. The towers are usually not very tall, so they wouldn't be great for defense. Also, many round towers were added to churches that were already built, and they often have flat sides where they join the main church building.
King's Orders for Bell Towers
A third idea comes from history. In 937 AD, King Æthelstan, who was the first King of all England, made a rule. He said that every important landowner, called a thane, should build a bell tower on their land. This rule might have made builders add bell towers to existing churches even faster. Perhaps the round shape was just a popular style at the time, or it was easier to build quickly.
Other Local Stories
Many communities with these churches have their own stories about why they are round. Some stories connect them to ancient stone circles or old wells. But these ideas are less likely to be true.
What Not to Confuse Them With
It's important not to mix up round-tower churches with other similar-looking buildings. For example, there are Irish round towers in Ireland and Scotland. These are usually taller and thinner. Also, don't confuse them with round churches, which have a completely circular main building, not just a round tower. You often find these in countries like Denmark or Sweden.
Where to Find Round-Tower Churches in England
Most of these churches are in England, especially in the East.
Berkshire
You can find a couple of round-tower churches in Berkshire, like St Mary's in Great Shefford.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire also has a few, such as St Mary's in Bartlow.
Essex
There are six round-tower churches in Essex. Some examples include St Peter and St Paul in Bardfield Saling and St Mary in Broomfield.
Norfolk
Norfolk has the most round-tower churches, with 124 of them! This county is a great place to see many examples of this unique architecture.
Suffolk
Suffolk is another county with many round-tower churches, having 38 in total. St Peter's Church in Bruisyard is one example. The largest round-tower church still standing in England is St Mary's in Wortham.
Sussex
Sussex has three round-tower churches, including St Michael's in Lewes.
Round-Tower Churches in Sweden
You can also find round-tower churches outside of England. Sweden has some, especially in a region called Scania.
Scania
Examples in Scania include Blentarp and Bollerup. Some, like Dagstorp Church, were taken down in the 1800s.
