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Woolstone church has an unusual dedication for English churches, that of 'St Martin de Tours', the patron saint of soldiers.

Woolstone

St Martin de Tours

The Leaning Tower
The leaning tower of Pisa gets more attention, but the little Gloucestershire village of Woolstone has its own leaning tower. The battlemented 15th century tower of the parish church of St Martin de Tours is said to lean at a greater angle than its more famous Italian counterpart. The lean is not a result of poor medieval construction, but rather it is down to the underlying geologic structure of Crane Hill, which has a high level of clay, making it subject to unpredictable shifts over time.

So pronounced did the leaning tower become that Italian engineers were called in, and in 1970 they inserted a number of long steel rods set in concrete beneath the tower. The rods were criss-crossed to spread the load, and went down to a depth of up to 40 feet. There is no evidence of this mechanical underpinning visible, but it must have worked, for the tower is still standing - and it is still leaning!

Medieval Murder
In 1471 the forces of the Lancastrians and Yorkists met in the bloody Battle of Tewkesbury. The terrible conflict saw the defeat of the Lancastrian army, and many of their soldiers were forced to flee the battlefield. Two soldiers fled here, to Woolstone, pursued closely by a group of their foes, and the soldiers sought the safety of the church. According to the custom of the time, the church was holy ground, and anyone claiming sanctuary here could not be harmed.

But the Yorkist soldiers cared nothing for convention; they entered the church and slew their prey.  We do not know where the murders took place, but we do know the consequences. The parishoners of Woolstone refused to worship in St Martin de Tours until it was reconsecrated. This was eventually done, and there are two reminders of this dark episode in the shape of Re-Dedication crosses. One can be found on the exterior north west buttress of the tower, and the other on the south east wall of the sanctuary.  (See photo below)

Pisa has its leaning tower, but Woolstone has one of its own. The tower of St Martin de Tours departs from the vertical quite noticeably, and has had to be underpinned to prevent it falling over.	Inside the south door is this simple 15th century tub font
A 16th century effigy lies in the sanctuary	Near the south door is this simple 16th century priest's chair of darkened oak
This faded rededication cross cross tells a deadly tale; soldiers fleeing the field after the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 were killed in the church. According to custom the church could not be used for worship until it had been reconsecrated.

Getting there
Woolstone is located just off the A435, turning uphill off the Gotherington road. The church is halfway up Crane Hill on the road through the village. There is limited parking along the road, but there is so little traffic this is unlikely to be a problem! Woolstone is a very small, peaceful village, with no through road.

Details
Woolstone, St Martin de Tours
Crane Hill
Woolstone
Cotswolds
Gloucestershire
England

Location: In the centre of Woolstone village. Parking along the verge outside the church.
OS SO961302

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All images are © David Ross