NORFOLK GALLERY 1
INGOLDISTHORPE. CHURCH : ST MICHAEL
Pictured top, two rather cute gargoyles from the lovely church of St Michael, Ingoldisthorpe. Just look at the size of the ears on the one on the left! Below, four images from Thursford, Norfolk. Sadly, this church was closed for the Winter due to problems with lighting and heating, and the whole place was in need of some tender loving care. However, on the South wall of the church there were some splendid gargoyles, with the two at the top being particularly good examples. Much renovations were undertaken on this church in the 1860's, and I suspect that the gargoyles here would date from the same period. Lighting conditions when visiting Thursford were very poor.
THURSFORD. CHURCH : ST ANDREW
LITTLE SNORING. CHURCH : ST ANDREW
LITTLE WALSINGHAM : THE PRIORY
Another miserable day in Norfolk, this time rainy Thursday in July! This badly eroded grotesque is one of two that stand on the West wall of the Priory gateway, looking down in to the high street. A photograph taken in the early 1960's that I found in a guidebook shows them in considerably better condition. Much damage caused through pollution in the last 50 years or so. A great pity.
A truly miserable Saturday morning at Little Snoring near to Fakenham. A family wedding and three days of incessant gloom! The picture on the right is of a repositioned gargoyle at the church of St Andrew. This very ancient looking fella can now be found under an arch in a partially bricked up doorway.
CLEY NEXT THE SEA. CHURCH : ST MARGARET
St Margaret's church at Cley kept me entertained for ages. Huge church, some incredible mid 18th Century graves and a few very decent gargoyles, four of which are pictured above. The gargoyles look reasonably modern, and if they date from the same time as the downpipes then we are looking at them being very late Victorian/very early Edwardian. On a four day trip where gargoyles and grotesques were thin on the ground, this was a nice change!
WARHAM. CHURCH : ST MARY MAGDALENE
Unusually for a small village, Warham, which can be found a mile and a bit away from Wells Next The Sea on the North Norfolk coast, has two medieval parish churches. All Saints is the other and there are no gargoyles or grotesques there. The gargoyles above come from St Mary Magdalene. The sun came out briefly as I was having my supper in the church grounds at the end of the day. The light was amazing for a few minutes and then it was back to being dull in a matter of seconds! If visiting this church also keep an eye out for some lovely medieval stained glass.
