Tower — Swords Glebe

Only the residential W tower of the medieval parish church survives. It lies on a height northwest of the C of I church (dated 1818) within the churchyard. A gable scar is present on the south wall. An early medieval cross slab (DU011-034007-) is built into the base of the south wall. The tower rises to four storeys with a belfry stage. The upper floors are offset and the style of the masonry changes at belfry stage. Built of coursed limestone masonry with dressed quoins. The tower is entered through a pointed arched doorway with late dressing in the south wall. The ground floor is square in plan with a corner turret in the SW which contains a stone newel staircase (int. dims 4m E-W, 4.40 N-S, wall Wth 1.40m). There is a barrel vault over the ground floor. Interior is lit by a single ope with chamfered exterior in the N corner of the E wall. The stairway is lit with single slit opes. Upper floors are entered through pointed arched, double centred doorways with late dressing. First floor is lit by a round-headed window under a flat segmental arch in the N wall. There is a flat lintelled fireplace in the S wall of the second floor with two wall presses to the W of it. The corbels which held the third floor are present. The belfry stage is entered through a flat-arched doorway with punch dressing. There are large pointed segmental-arched openings with louvres in the N, S, and E sides. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Updated by: Christine Baker Date of upload: 08 January 2015