Holy Places and Holy Spaces - Norfolk - UK

Burgh Castle - Roman Fort - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:08:28 +0000

Burgh Castle is in fact a Roman Fort built in the late third or early fourth century, as part of a string of forts around the south and east coasts stretching from Porchester in Hampshire to Brancaster in north Norfolk. The fort now overlooks a large expanse of grazing marshes to the west which once formed a great inland estuary. Breydon Water is the last remnant of that estuary today. There is considerable evidence for Anglo-Saxon activity in and around the fort, including a Christian community or what may have been the monastery of a seventh-century saint, St Fursey. Later, when the Normans came they built a castle in the south west corner, although little of that remains after it was levelled in the eighteenth century.

The Martyrs Field - Walsingham

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:06:30 +0000

Most people visit the village of Little Walsingham, in North Norfolk, to find the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. However, just outside the village, near to the coach park, there is a little lane which, in a sense, takes us not only up and away from the village but back in time. On 30 May, 1537, for their part in protesting against the suppression of religious houses by King Henry VIII, Nicholas Mileham, the Sub-Prior of Walsingham Abbey, and a fellow 'conspirator, George Gysburgh, walked up this lane to their death. They suffered the terrible fate of being hanged, drawn and quartered in the field on the right hand side, which is still known to this day as the Martyr's Field.

Ruins of St Margaret of Antioch - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:03:20 +0000

The small medieval church of St. Margaret of Antioch in East Raynham was abandoned in the 18th century, being considered too expensive to repair, and another was built in the grounds of the Townsend Estate. The graveyard and ruins are well kept and open-air Services are again celebrated here. There are wonderful views across the surrounding countryside.

Shotesham St Mary - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:59:32 +0000

Shotesham St. Mary is a lovely picturesque village, about five miles to the south of Norwich. The church is situated on a hill and from this vantage point, there is a magnificent view over 43 acres of common land which forms a valley stretching away from the village. Throughout the seasons of the year, the common, and the beck which runs through, provide a huge amount of interest with a variety of plants, birds and other wildlife to observe and study. During the summer months, the seat on the church hill, particularly in the late evening, affords a spectacular place from which to view the sunset.

Walsingham Abbey - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:57:24 +0000

Walsingham Abbey is set in the picturesque medieval village of Little Walsingham. In its' day, it was one of the richest the most famous Abbeys in England. Sadly, little remains of the original buildings although the extensive grounds and river and woodland walks are a place of tranquillity and peace. The medieval packhorse bridge is a beautiful, simply constructed stone bridge spanning the River Stiffkey which flows through the grounds. If you visit the Abbey grounds when the snowdrops are flowering, it is a spectacular sight as millions of plants, tightly packed together over acres of woodland, give an impression of a landscape covered in snow.

The Anchorhold - All Saints Kings Lynn

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:53:57 +0000

In mediaeval times, there were over two hundred anchorites in East Anglia. However, sadly, very few of the cells or anchorholds have survived. In King's Lynn, the small medieval, cruciform, church of All Saints' has the remains of a south facing anchorhold, which is complete. The little cell is simply furnished, with a table, laid with a pewter plate and a glass and a pottery jug, to represent Anchoress, an altar, a few benches, and the floor is strewn with herbs and rushes, as in medieval times. The feeling inside the room could perhaps be described as prayerful and, considering the three hundred flats which surround the church, incredibly peaceful.

All Saints Church - East Barsham

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:52:00 +0000

On a map, East Barsham is a hamlet between Fakenham and the village of Little Walsingham. Most people drive past this little church on their way to the village of Walsingham. However, from a religious perspective, it is incredibly important, medievally, as the edge of Our Lady's Land. Pilgrims would have come here to hear Mass, before entering the 'sacred area' of Walsingham. The healthy would have walked down to the village, via the 'holy mile', and the sick would have been carried to the hospice in the next village of Houghton St. Giles. The church is incredibly important in the history of England. King Henry VIII would have heard Mass here, with his Queen, Catherine of Aragon, on the occasions of his stay at East Barsham Manor, journeying to the Shrine of Our Lady to pray for an heir to his throne.

Bacton Abbey - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:48:48 +0000

In the Coastal village of Bacton, close to the village boundary, through the ruined gatehouse on Abbey Street, stand the remains of Bromholm Priory, or Bacton Abbey, once one of the most holy places in Europe. The priory, founded as a sister house to Catle Acre in 1113, was destitute until its Cluniac monks purchased, what they believed to be, a relic of the 'true cross' from a priest who had, wandered throughout Europe trying to find a buyer for it. Once in their hands, the monks promptly used it to cure all kinds of diseases - even to raise people from the dead! Its fame attracted pilgrims from all over Europe, including Henry III, and its name was immortalized in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales."

Salle Church - Norfolk

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:45:22 +0000

It is difficult to find words to describe the magnificence of Salle church. It is a vast liturgical space almost breath-taking in its size and must be one of the largest, if not the largest, parish church in Norfolk. It has many notable features, including a 'canopied' seven sacrament font and a lovely angel roof. This church has connections with the Boleyn family and there is a tradition that the headless body of Ann was interred here after her death in the Tower of London.

All Saints' - Waterden Church

danielgibbins@allsaintskingslynn.org.uk — Wed, 7 Nov 2007 22:10:00 +0000

The little church of All Saints', Waterden, is 'abandoned' in the middles of fields not far from the village of South Creake.

It is a lovely little church, beautifully kept, and a place of real peace and tranquillity.

The south aisle has long since disappeared, although there are Saxon and Norman architectural features to be seen.