Wantage - Open Church and Tower

This is definitely one for the "views" section of this blog. On Saturday 16 April, Wantage Parish Church had an open day with the 16 m high tower open for visitors and stalls and cream teas on terra firma inside the church.

The tower dates from the 13th century and there is an initial climb up 37 stone steps to the ringing chamber. This is of interest in its own right and contains the winding and chiming mechanisms for the clock as well as a copy of Betjeman's "Wantage Bells" written in his own hand.

To get to the top of the tower, there are a number of wooden ladders and stairways around the bell chamber and you finally emerge on to the roof on hands and knees through a small door. This would have been a struggle for me after recent medical treatment, so I elected to remain in the ringing chamber and the fine views above are thanks to my husband. These show both the historic character of Wantage and its changing face with some of the recent developments.