Inside St Mary the Virgin's Church, Upleadon (West)

The base of the Tower is cleverly joined to the Nave to give the appearance of a complete structure. However the Nave is Norman, whereas the Tower was added sometime in the early 16th century. It is half-timbered from the base upwards, which is unusual, if not unique in a timber tower. The main framing is of single oak beams, hand crafted to a smooth finish - the manner of its construction, as an “X”. of which here we see the lower “Wishbone”, giving it additional stability.

Even so, various underpinnings have been necessary since its construction, relating to settlement of the mound, so much so that in 1966, the church was declared unsafe. Happily, however a great deal of restoration work has ensured its present-day survival.

(Information provided by Rosemary Lockie)