Tyndale Monument facts for kids
The Tyndale Monument is a tall tower built on a hill in North Nibley, Gloucestershire, England. It was built to honor William Tyndale. He was an important person who first translated the New Testament part of the Bible into English. William Tyndale was born near this spot. The monument is a special old building, officially called a Grade II* listed building.
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The Tyndale Monument: A Special Tower
The tower was built in 1866. It stands 111 feet (34 meters) tall. You can go inside and climb to the very top. There's a spiral staircase with 121 steps. It's a great way to get some exercise!
Amazing Views from the Top
From the top of the tower, you can see for miles around. The hill it sits on gives you wide views, especially looking down towards the River Severn. A special sign nearby, called a topograph, points out other famous places you can see from there. The path leading up to the monument is part of the Cotswold Way, a long walking trail. It's a bit steep but worth the climb!
Exploring the Monument
The door to the tower is always open, so you can visit anytime. Locals often call it the Nibley Monument. The hill itself is known as Nibley Knoll or sometimes Nibley Knob. The tower is lit up at night by floodlights, making it easy to spot. The stairs inside even have automatic lights!
Remembering William Tyndale
On the front of the tower, there is a special commemorative plaque. It has words carved into it that tell us why the monument was built.
The plaque says:
- ERECTED A.D. 1866
- IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF
- WILLIAM TYNDALE
- TRANSLATOR OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE
- WHO FIRST CAUSED THE NEW TESTAMENT
- TO BE PRINTED IN THE MOTHER TONGUE
- OF HIS COUNTRYMEN
- BORN NEAR THIS SPOT HE SUFFERED
- MARTYRDOM AT VILVORDEN IN
- FLANDERS ON OCT 6 1536
This means the tower was put up in 1866 to remember William Tyndale. He was the first person to get the New Testament printed in English. He was born close by and sadly died for his work in Belgium on October 6, 1536.
A Landmark You Can See Far Away
The Tyndale Monument is a very noticeable landmark. You can see it from many miles away! People in Bristol, which is over 20 miles away, can sometimes spot it. In the town of Thornbury, there's even a street called Tyndale View. From there, you can see the tower about 10 miles away.
Similar Towers Nearby
Further along the Cotswold Edge, in a place called Hawkesbury, there's another tower. It's called the Somerset Monument. It was built in 1846. The Tyndale Monument has some similar design features to this older tower.
The Monument Today
The monument is a popular spot for walkers and visitors. In October 2019, some people used the monument to display a banner. This banner was part of a protest about protecting the environment.
