The Pensford Publow and the Stantons Community Trust is delighted to have been able to cover the full cost of the work to make the walkway round the top of the tower safe and to improve and make safe the access to the roof. Andrew Hillman, Chair of the Community Trust said: “This is exactly the type of project we are very keen to support: local people, such as the Tower Friends, working hard to keep a valuable local asset open, where we can provide the necessary finance.”
The medieval tower of St. Thomas Becket church in Pensford is again open to the public after work to ensure it is safe. The views to the famous Pensford railway viaduct and over the village are spectacular.
The 14th Century Tower is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, supported by a very active “Friends” group. The Trust took over the care of the Tower in 1971, the church itself having been declared redundant. The main church structure is now a private dwelling, having been beautifully restored in recent years. The present church structure itself dates from 1868, earlier versions having been victims of floods down the years: the current building was devastated by the great flood of 1968, leading to the decision to declare it redundant. The church serving the parish is now All Saints’ at Publow, itself a very beautiful building.
The Trust took over the tower principally because of the very fine medieval bell frame, which remains in place although no longer able to allow bell ringing.
The Pensford Publow and the Stantons Community Trust is delighted to have been able to cover the full cost of the work to make the walkway round the top of the tower safe and to improve and make safe the access to the roof. Andrew Hillman, Chair of the Community Trust said: “This is exactly the type of project we are very keen to support: local people, such as the Tower Friends, working hard to keep a valuable local asset open, where we can provide the necessary finance.”
