TOWER ON ST MICHAELS HILL
Overview
Heritage Category: Listed Building
Grade: II
List Entry Number: 1057255
Date first listed: 19-Apr-1961
Statutory Address: TOWER ON ST MICHAELS HILL
Map
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Location
Statutory Address: TOWER ON ST MICHAELS HILL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Somerset
District: South Somerset (District Authority)
Parish: Montacute
National Grid Reference: ST 49348 16977
Details
ST4614 MONTACUTE CP
8/87 Tower on St. Michaels Hill
19.4.61
- II
Folly, used as signal tower. 1760. Ham stone ashlar, flat stone top. Circular on plan, about 3m diameter, and about 12m
tall: chamfered flat- arched doorway on east side, and 3 slit-light windows at various levels on north-west, south and
south-east sectors, illuminating the internal newel stone staircase; at the crown there is a string course, above which
the walls have a marked batter into the flat top: on the east face above the string is a cantilevered platform with
doorway at head of stairs, and an external stair to the flat top, without any surviving guard rails. There is a Greek
inscription over the doorway and the initials 'K.P. 1760' (but Edward Phelips was the likely builder). The hill was the
site of a Norman Castle, mostly demolished to build the Priory of Montacute: St. Michael's Chapel, first recorded 1102,
survived at least until the mid C17; its site now occupied by the tower, which was used as a signal tower to Swayne
Harbin at Newton Surmaville (using the Round House, Item 2/26 Barwick C.P., q.v) and Mr. Goodford, of Chilton Cantelo.
Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 101). (Nares S, Country Life, 5th September, 1952, p679).
Listing NGR: ST4934816977
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number: 263542
Legacy System: LBS
Sources
Books and journals
'Country Life' in 5 September, (1952), 679
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official listing