Who Built the Tower?
The tower was commissioned by the town’s civic leaders, led by the mayor and aldermen, as part of efforts to establish St Albans as a self-governing borough distinct from the abbey’s ecclesiastical authority.
The builder’s identity is uncertain, but the style suggests skilled masons influenced by the Perpendicular Gothic architectural style popular in England at the time.
Architectural Features
- Height and Structure: The tower stands about 90 feet (27 meters) tall, making it a prominent feature on the town skyline.
- Materials: Built primarily of local flint and stone, the tower showcases craftsmanship in its detailed buttresses, battlements, and tracery windows.
- Design: The tower’s square base supports four stages, each adorned with decorative elements including niches, pinnacles, and crenellations.
- Belfry Stage: The upper stage houses the bells, with large arched openings allowing sound to carry across the town. shutdown123