St Leonard's Tower, West Malling
Encyclopedia
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.
. In 1090, Gundulf also founded St. Mary’s Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine
nuns.
It probably served as a fortified house (or Castle), although it is also said to be the tower of the church of St Leonard, which was 70 feet (21.3 m) long by 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. The church is said to have been demolished for the materials it was made from. Constructed of ragstone, the surviving tower is 32 feet (9.8 m) square, and 60 feet (18.3 m) to 70 feet (21.3 m) tall, being built into a hillside. There were three floors. The tower is a Grade I listed building..
West Malling
West Malling is a historic market town in the Tonbridge and Malling district of Kent, England. It has a population of about 3000-5000.-Landmarks:...
, in the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The tower was built by Bishop Gundulf
Gundulf of Rochester
Gundulf was a Norman monk who came to England following the Conquest. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester and Prior of the Cathedral Priory there; built castles including Rochester, Colchester and the White Tower of the Tower of London and the Priory and Cathedral Church of...
around 1080.
Situated beside Manor Park Country Park
Manor Park Country Park
.Manor Park Country Park is a country park in West Malling, Kent, England. The park, formerly the private gardens of the nearby Douces Manor was purchased from the manor's owners by Kent County Council in 1973 to be converted into a public open space....
, along St.Leonard's Road.
History
St Leonard's Tower was built between 1077 and 1108 by Bishop GundulfGundulf of Rochester
Gundulf was a Norman monk who came to England following the Conquest. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester and Prior of the Cathedral Priory there; built castles including Rochester, Colchester and the White Tower of the Tower of London and the Priory and Cathedral Church of...
. In 1090, Gundulf also founded St. Mary’s Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nuns.
It probably served as a fortified house (or Castle), although it is also said to be the tower of the church of St Leonard, which was 70 feet (21.3 m) long by 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. The church is said to have been demolished for the materials it was made from. Constructed of ragstone, the surviving tower is 32 feet (9.8 m) square, and 60 feet (18.3 m) to 70 feet (21.3 m) tall, being built into a hillside. There were three floors. The tower is a Grade I listed building..