A Special Selection of Twenty Round Tower Churches to Visit

From this page you can follow the "Web map" links to maps at the StreetMap UK website, and then use your browser's Back button to return here. The sheets referred to are the Landranger series of maps from the Ordnance Survey. The grid reference is given for those maps. There are also latitude and longitude figures for GPS users.

This is a list of twenty churches with special features, but all our churches are worth a visit in their different ways. Do visit any that you find. Many are kept locked because they are in isolated places, but there is normally a notice in the porch explaining how to find a person who holds a key. (Note that the Society publishes a booklet that lists and locates all the East Anglian churches, with county maps and other information.)

Haddiscoe

Haddiscoe: St Mary
This is often called the champion of round towers. Of Saxo-Norman origin, c1100. It contains many of the traditional Saxon styles.
South-East Norfolk. Sheet 134, TM 439 969 (Lat N52:30:54 Long E1:35:42) Web map

Herringfleet: St Mary
This church is three miles from Haddiscoe and the tower is of a similar date. It has a thatched nave and flint bands to the tower. The church is earlier than the tower.
North-East Suffolk. Sheet 134, TM 477 978 (Lat N52:31:17 Long E1:39:03) Web map

Lound: St John the Baptist
This church is known locally as the Golden Church because of the large amount of gold leaf used in the decoration. This was all designed by Sir Ninian Comper in 1914. Note the modern wall painting and how it is already dated by the car and the aeroplane.
North-East Suffolk. Sheet 134, TM 506 990 (Lat N52:31:51Long E1:41:38) Web map

Blundeston: St Mary
This church is noted for its associations with Charles Dickens. It has a fine early tower. Note the blocked-up Saxon belfry windows. It has a good screen.
North-East Suffolk. Sheet 134, TM 514 972 (Lat N52:30:51 Long E1:42:18) Web map

Fritton: St Edmund
A thatched church with a quaint apsidal (round-ended) chancel that has hardly altered from early days. Early wall paintings and a rare three-decker pulpit make this church a must.
North-East Suffolk. 134, TG 473 002 (Lat N52:32:32 Long E1:38:51) Web map

Heckingham

Hales: St Margaret and Heckingham: St Gregory
Should be visited together as they are sister churches and are situated quite close together. Each has a Saxon apsidal chancel. They are both typical Norfolk thatched churches, both having magnificent Norman doorways and many other items of interest. They are also both among the seven round-tower churches which are well cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.
South-East Norfolk. Sheet 134 Hales TM 383 961 (Lat N52:30:37 Long E1:30:44) Web map Heckingham TM 385 988 Web map

Howe: St Mary
Not far from Norwich, this is a beautiful early church, and well kept. It has many signs of Saxon workmanship in both the church and tower.
South-East Norfolk. Sheet 134, TM 275 999 Web map

Tasburgh: St Mary the Virgin, Thorpe-Next Haddiscoe: St Matthias and Thorington: St Peter
These three churches all show Saxon arcading in flints in their towers, although Norman work has been added later.
Tasburgh and Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe: South-East Norfolk. Sheet 134, TM 201 959 (Lat N52:30:58 Long E1:14:39) Web map and TM 436 981 (Lat N52:31:33 Long E1:35:30) Web map
Thorington: East Suffolk. Sheet156, TM 423 742 (Lat N52:18:43 Long E1:33:18) Web map

Little Snoring: St Andrew, Norfolk and Bramfield: St Andrew, Suffolk
These are the only two detached round towers, one in each county. While Little Snoring once had a Saxon church attached to it, the tower at Bramfield has always been detached. Bramfield has one of the finest screens in Suffolk.
North-West Norfolk and East Suffolk. Little Snoring, sheet 132, TF 953 326 (Lat N52:51:18 Long E0:54:04) Web map. Bramfield, sheet 156, TM 399 738 (Lat N52:18:34 Long E1:31:11) Web map

Forncett St Peter: St Peter
This church has a fine late-Saxon tower, and many old benches are still preserved. A fine mediaeval staircase leads to the first floor of the tower.
South Norfolk. Sheet 144, TM 165 928 (Lat N52:29:23 Long E1:11:21) Web map

Roughton

Roughton: St Mary
The tower here is extremely fine. Partly built of ironstone, it shows herringbone work, round Saxon windows and also the typically Saxon double-pointed belfry.
North Norfolk. Sheet 133, TG 220 365 (Lat N52:52:47 Long E1:17:59) Web map

Risby: St Giles
The late Saxon tower had a double ring of round-headed belfry windows, although some are now blocked. Inside the church there is much of interest with a fine screen and wall paintings.
West Suffolk. Sheet 155, TL 802 664 (Lat N52:15:57 Long E0:38:28) Web map

Little Saxham: St Nicholas
This church and tower are of great beauty for their style and proportions. The top stage of the tower is Norman and it is on a Saxon base.
West Suffolk. Sheet 155, TL 799 637 (Lat N52:14:30 Long E0:38:07) Web map

Burnham Norton: St Margaret

Norman font, Saxon door at Ramsholt

This is a late Saxon tower that has altered very little since it was built. The ring of circular windows below the parapet has been blocked up, but most of the other windows have remained as they were. The narrow church was widened by adding north and south aisles in the thirteenth century. Inside there is much of interest and beauty, from the Norman font to the Saxon tower arch and upper doorway, and especially the famous wine-glass pulpit of 1450 with its original paintings in fine condition.
North Norfolk. Sheet 132, TF 835 428 (Lat N52:56:44 Long E0:44:33) Web map

Ramsholt: All Saints
This very isolated church stands on a prominent site above the river Deben. It has a very elegant tower with three buttresses that enhance its shape and beauty. Inside there is much of interest.
South East Suffolk. Sheet 169, TM 307 421 (Lat N52:01:44 Long E1:21:48) Web map

Sedgeford: St Mary
This church must be one of the largest of the round tower churches. It shows quite well how different generations added to their church. It now has north and south aisles, north and south porches and its chancel was extended in the thirteenth century.
North-West Norfolk. Sheet 132, TF 707 365 (Lat N52:53:55 Long E0:32:17) Web map

Church tours

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