Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Saint Martin's Tower
Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 28 March 2002
- Locality
- Caldey Village
- Town
- Tenby
- Community
- Tenby
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.63761, -4.68720
- Cadw reference
- 26439
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Situated at NW angle of abbey buildings, on crag above the Post Office.
History
Detached tower designed by John Coates Carter as part of the monastery buildings at Caldey and built in 1910, complete by June 1911. The building has an affinity with the Arts and Crafts work of C F A Voysey, and also demonstrates Carter's interest in concrete, with concrete external stairs and possibly structure. A clock prominent on the NW face and a chimney on the SE have been removed. More recently it has been known as the Oblates' Tower.
Exterior
Tower, whitewashed roughcast, possibly on concrete, with bell-cast plain-tiled pyramid roof and deep eaves. Chimney on SE roof slope removed. Square plan, three levels, each with entry from hillside. Top floor NE has flying steps up to arched entry with recessed door on left, and 2 small casements to right. Other sides have pair of narrow loops each, NW side had a clock in centre. Middle level has NE side arched door in flush stone surround to extreme right and small casement to centre, by steps up to top floor. NW side has shallow canted oriel of 1-2-1 lights, flat top and deep roughcast lower part ogee-moulded at base, SW side has single loop in centre. Bottom level has 2 small casements to NW side and one centre pair of tiny sashes to SW, other two sides against the rock.
Interior
Said to have a few features by Coates Carter remaining inside, stairs, cupboards, altered fireplaces.
Reason for designation
Included as a detached tower part of the overall design of the monastery, and of great landscape value.
Nearby in the register
- The Post OfficeCivilunder 1 mi
- Wall and gate to garden W of the AbbeyGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Caldey AbbeyReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- The CottagesMaritimeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.