St Oswald's Church, Lassington

St Oswald's Church is a Norman-style stone tower in Lassington, Gloucestershire, England, composed of three stages and topped by a pyramid-shaped roof with an iron cross. The tower stands alone in farmland, with a small churchyard surrounding its base.

The tower was built before the Norman Conquest and received its first documented mention during a rededication ceremony in 1095. The structure belonged to a settlement that gradually declined and was abandoned during the medieval period.

The tower's isolation in open fields marks the spot where a medieval village once stood and where locals gathered for worship centuries ago. Today it serves as a quiet landmark that speaks to how rural settlements change and disappear over time.

The tower sits away from main roads and can be reached by minor country lanes signed from Highnam village. There is no official parking at the site, so it is best approached on foot from nearby areas or from the nearest car park.

The church is the last remaining structure of Lassingham village, which became completely deserted during the medieval period. This solitary tower stands as a rare reminder of how little sometimes survives from former settlements.

Location: Highnam

Inception: 11 century

Architectural style: Norman architecture

Website: http://visitchurches.org.uk/findachurch/st-oswald-lassington/?region=Gloucestershire

GPS coordinates: 51.88871,-2.29779

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:40