Anglo Saxon Church Towers - What Were They For?

An investigation...

In summer I visited this church at Barton-Upon-Humber, Lincolnshire. It has, as you can see, a spectacular Anglo-Saxon tower, with all the characteristics of the period; double vaulted openings, triangular and arched arcading along the sides and more. There are lots of anglo-saxon towers which survive in whole or in part, but this one, uniquely, has been excavated and so it gives clues as to what they were for. This post might surprise you!

Left: Ovingham, Right: Bosham

Here are a few more towers from my collection, you can see the familiar openings at the top of these two.