Type Tower Town or city West Malling Opened 1090 Architectural style Norman architecture Floor count 3 | Location St Leonard's Street Completed c. 1090 Phone +44 370 333 1181 Owner English Heritage | |
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Address English Heritage, St Leonard's Tower, West Malling ME19 6PD, United Kingdom Hours Open today · 9AM–5PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PMSunday9AM–5PMMonday9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday9AM–5PMSuggest an edit Similar Manor Park Country Park, Old Soar Manor, Sutton Valence Castle, Eynsford Castle, Kit's Coty House | ||
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.
History
St Leonard's Tower was built between 1077 and 1108 by Bishop Gundulf. 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 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 m) to 70 feet (21 m) tall, being built into a hillside. There were three floors. The tower is a Grade I listed building.