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Greyfriars tower was probably a bell tower, built
as part of the Franciscan friary which was founded in the 1230s.
It's slender and hexagonal above its base and now
forms the only standing remains of the Greyfriars precinct in Lynn.
The tower leans 67.5 centimetres over it's height
of more than 28 metres. This gives a lean of just over 1 degree,
much less than the leaning tower of Pisa's 5.5 degrees but clearly
visible from the ground.
The friars, who followed St Francis of Assisi,
performed pastoral duties in the town and were famed for their entertaining
preaching.
They'd have lived their lives according to their
vows of chastity, poverty and obedience but would have relied on
the charity of others.
Greyfriars Tower |
Medieval Kings Lynn, or Bishop's Lynn as it was
known at the time, was the third largest port in the country so
its people were wealthy.
On 1 October, 1538 the friary surrendered to Henry
VIII's troops during the time of the suppression. It was eventually
pulled down but the tower was left standing for its use as a sea
mark.
The building is 's now owned by the borough council
and is on the English Heritage Register of Buildings at Risk. They
say it's affected by structural stress, including subsidence. It's
also been damaged by the rain and insects.
The building won its regional heat on Friday 15
August, beating a windmill in Lincolnshire and a Fort in Essex.
You can place your vote for Greyfriars Tower
by calling 0901 077 5002. Calls cost 30p. Lines are open until
10.10pm on Sunday 14 September.
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