List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: TOWER ON ST MICHAELS HILL
List Entry Number: 1057255
Location
TOWER ON ST MICHAELS HILL
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County:
District: Somerset
District Type: Unitary Authority
Parish: Montacute
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II
Date first listed: 19-Apr-1961
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
UID: 263542
Asset Groupings
This List entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List Entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
History
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
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
Selected Sources
Books and journals'Country Life' in 5 September, (1952), 679
Map
National Grid Reference: ST 49348 16977
The below map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1057255.pdf - Please be aware that it may take a few minutes for the download to complete.
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This copy shows the entry on 28-Mar-2024 at 12:04:04.