Walking. Gossip. Travel.

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  • South Walsham – Church of St. Lawrence

    South Walsham – Church of St. Lawrence

    South Walsham only has three listed buildings, although that’s still a fair number, but all three are located in this one churchyard. The first is the Church of St. Lawrence (in the front of the above photo), the second is the collapsed tower of St. Lawrence (just visible in the middle of the above photo) and the other is the larger Church of St. Mary (at the rear of the above photo).

    The church was originally built in the fourteenth century, likely on the same site as an earlier religious building. The idea of having two churches next to each other seems slightly illogical today, although if you’ve got two different parishes and one particularly decent piece of land, then it does make some sense to have two different buildings at the same site. And, this worked well enough until the fire that destroyed most of the church in 1827.

    The above photo is of the north side of the church, with the central window being bricked up.

    The doors to the church give the appearance of having fire damage to their base, which would be a permanent reminder of 1827. The locals didn’t though merge the churches even when faced with the problem that one of them was burnt out, instead rebuilding much of the former chancel and re-opening in 1832. The two churches then continued separately until 1890, when their congregations were merged.

    This meant that St. Lawrence’s church was left to become derelict, seemingly forever destined to fall under the shadow of St. Mary’s. But, a recent restoration of the building has returned it to use as an arts centre, with photos on their web-site with the scale of the challenge they had.

    The churchyard is well-kept, all very neat.

    This is what is left of the tower of St. Lawrence, badly damaged by fire in 1827 and then what remained collapsed in 1971 (George Plunkett’s archive has a photo of the tower in 1937 as it looked before the collapse). Today, the area is used as the Sacristan’s Garden and contains medicinal herbs and plants and reflects what may have been grown in the medieval period.

    The Sacristan’s Garden, looking towards the main part of St. Lawrence’s Church.

    The flushwork design is still present at the base of the tower.

  • Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Five

    Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Five

    The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was first published at the end of the eighteenth century, and given that the Coronavirus crisis is giving too much time to read books, I thought I’d pick a daily word from it until I got bored….

    Crowdy

    Francis Grose, the author of this dictionary was a London man, albeit well-travelled, but that might show through with the definition of this word, which is “oatmeal and water, or milk; a mess much eaten in the north”. A mess sounds fairly accurate, although the word ‘north’ here is really primarily referring to Scotland, which is where Grose did spend some time whilst researching other books.

    No modern dictionary seems to give the word origin here, but crowdie is a Scottish cheese and so the word origin is likely the same. Likely deriving from ‘crud’ and ‘ie’ which has the same origins as curd, so simply curdy, which could mean lumpy and thick.

  • Random Posts – Tigh na Leigh and Four in a Bed

    Random Posts – Tigh na Leigh and Four in a Bed

    I don’t watch much television, as I’m normally stuck walking in some field or have accidentally diverted to some pub, but I remain surprised why some couples go on programmes as Four in a Bed with such a hugely risky strategy of marking everyone else down. This week’s debacle involved the owners of Tigh na Leigh managing to savagely underpay their rivals and led to everyone else storming out. It makes for good television, and I like a drama, but it can’t be pleasant to now have to live through that for years.

    An otherwise seemingly perfectly run B&B with excellent reviews, an impeccable web-site and no now social media as they’ve had to delete it given the debacle. And although TripAdvisor and the like have removed the hotel’s fake negative reviews, the programme will be broadcast again in the future, and it’ll all happen again. I don’t envy the owners…

  • Hemblington – All Saints Church (George Weston and Godfrey Weston War Graves)

    Hemblington – All Saints Church (George Weston and Godfrey Weston War Graves)

    It’s not that common to see Commonwealth War Graves at remote Norfolk churches, but All Saints at Hemblington have two war dead, both marked on one grave. They are the graves of Squadron Leader George Ernest Weston, who died at the age of 23, and Flight Sergeant Godfrey Randal Weston, who died at the age of 22.

    The men were brothers, sons of George and Frances Lesley Weston, of Nelson City, New Zealand and they were buried together, but died in separate air crashes, with George dying on 1 October 1942 and Godfrey dying on 20 April 1944. There’s a photo of Godfrey at https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C22286.

  • Hemblington – All Saints Church

    Hemblington – All Saints Church

    The real highlights of this rural church are inside, a medieval wall painting, rood stairs and a spectacular font, so I’ll have to return when they’re able to open internally.

    The church are busy praying for lots of people, seems like a pro-active congregation.

    The round tower is the oldest part of the church, constructed in the twelfth century.

    The bulk of the rest of the church was built in the early fourteenth century, although some dates from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. There was a sensitive restoration that took place to the church in 1904 and a piscina and niche were discovered, although the wall paintings weren’t noticed until later on in the twentieth century.

    The porchway which was added to the church in the early part of the sixteenth century.

    Part of the churchyard has been turned into a wildlife garden. I’m looking forwards to going back when I can see the interior, this is a beautiful and remote church.

  • South Walsham and Burlingham Green Walk Photos

    South Walsham and Burlingham Green Walk Photos

    No photo description available.

    Rob and me decided to go for a short meander this afternoon to an area where I’ve walked near to, but I haven’t been to South Walsham and Burlingham Green for some years. It started off hot in the Norfolk sun, before fortunately cooling down a little. Four churches visited today, or at least the exterior of them, photos of those in separate posts.

       

  • Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Four

    Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue – Day Ninety-Four

    The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue was first published at the end of the eighteenth century, and given that the Coronavirus crisis is giving too much time to read books, I thought I’d pick a daily word from it until I got bored….

    Cropsick

    The dictionary defines this as “sickness in the stomach, arising from drunkenness” and is still in some dictionaries today and means something more akin to ‘a surfeit of food and drink’. The word ‘crop’ used to more commonly mean ‘the top of something’, so I’m going with the idea that this phrase evolved from something like headsick, although that’s likely to be a guess which is wrong.

    The word has slowly gone out of usage over the last two centuries, but I’m not sure why, it’s quite a ring to it.

  • LDWA 100 – Q & As with Rob Newell

    LDWA 100 – Q & As with Rob Newell

    This page is all part of my effort to walk the 2021 LDWA 100.

    My latest series of posts is asking some more professional walkers who have actually completed the walk about how they have got on. And today’s beautifully crafted questions have been answered by Rob Newell, from Norfolk & Suffolk group, who has completed two 100 events and has a Twitter account at https://twitter.com/RobMarlinsUK. A fan of David Morgan, I’ve always thought that Rob has a huge advantage with his height and this is why he can complete events faster than me. But, as he himself says, it’s not about the time and it’s not a race. Although secretly, if I’m near to the end of an event I try and rush myself past anyone I possibly can who is ahead in the hope of moving a few places up the results table…..

    Anyway, I digress. Back to Rob.

    Q. When was your first 100?

    The Cinque Ports 100 in 2018

    Q. When you finished your first 100, did you think you’d do another?

    Yes, definitely. The experience of the Cinque Ports 100 was so amazing I knew I had to do more.

    Q. You once nearly retired on a 100, but carried on to finish. How did you get the mental strength to carry on?

    On the Hadrian Hvndred I got a chill going over the top of Cross Fell in some of the most atrocious stormy weather I have ever walked in. The conditions over the next climb at High Cup Nick just compounded the problem. I came off the mountain shivering and walking very, very slowly. Morale hit rock bottom and I knew it was all over. I approached the checkpoint, a draughty barn and was welcomed by Graham Smith and the Kent LDWA. He asked me how I was and I said not good, but rather than take my tally card he comforted me in the fact I had loads of time. But as soon as I sat down I couldn’t stop shivering, the feeling that I had failed took over and I burst into tears. I was wrapped in blankets and a hot water bottle but after several cups of hot soup and tea later I felt better and was encouraged to keep going.

    Mentally I overcame the remaining distance by determination to finish and by splitting the remaining distance in my head. I had 7 miles to think about to the next checkpoint, not the 30 miles I had left. This is essential at the start of the 100, don’t think about the distance or it will become overwhelming. Instead split it up between checkpoints and the notable areas on the challenge, it’s not as daunting

    Q. What would you pick at a checkpoint, two sausage rolls, one chicken bake or one steak bake?

    Ideally would alternate between each checkpoint but if I had to choose one it would be the Chicken Bake

    Q. How important are the marshals to you at checkpoints on longer challenge events?

    The marshals are vital, welcoming you in, checking that you are ok and making sure you have enough food and water before setting off again. Later on in the events they really care for the bewildered walkers as they stumble into the checkpoint, getting drink and food for you and offering some friendly encouragement

    Q. Do you recommend others consider using walking poles?

    I personally like poles on longer events as they take pressure off my legs and knees plus helps me straighten my back. I think this along with the right hydration helps prevent strain on the legs. I use Pacer Poles as the get me into a rhythm. However they can be annoying as they are unwieldy when trying to read the route description! So I now only use on long events.

    Q. Have you hallucinated towards the end of a walk?

    Yes, a Roman chariot but with 4 people with Georgian style wigs at the end of the Cinque Ports (it was actually a bush) and there were people standing by the trees in the woods near Hexham racecourse on the Hadrian Hvndred who were actually not there. I said hello to a few of them!

    Q. Other than your area of Norfolk & Suffolk, where would you most like to walk a 100 event in the UK?

    Scottish Highlands or the Isle of Wight

    Q. Are you more reliant on the route description or the GPX file?

    GPX file, however I do try to follow the description and then use GPX as a back up

    Q. Have you been scared of a sheep / cow / snake / pig / seagull or similar on a challenge walk?

    On the Wye Valley 50 during the night I looked down a valley to see thousands of little lights shining back at me, I then realised they were sheep! Also on The Harvest Hobble in Lincolnshire a farmer opened a gate to let a herd of cows out as I walked past, about 50 cows then followed me for half a mile.

    Q. What’s the snack of choice that you take with you on the 100?

    Fredos!

    Q. Do you think you’ll keep on doing the LDWA 100 every year?

    Yes!

    Q. Is your 100 certificate proudly displayed on the wall at home?

    Yes!

    Q. To those people who are thinking about taking part in their first challenge event, maybe just 18 miles, what advice would you give them?

    Do a few warm up walks slowly building up the distance, experiment with socks and footwear to find the most comfortable solution for your feet. On the day keep hydrated and don’t worry about the speed of others, it’s not a race.

  • LDWA – Group Walking is Back

    LDWA – Group Walking is Back

    Well, how lovely, group walking is back from next week in England with LDWA groups, albeit with a requirement to follow the guidelines set down by the LDWA NEC. But, it’s a start at least of getting walking back to some sort of normality….

  • Hassingham – St. Mary’s Church

    Hassingham – St. Mary’s Church

     

    We visited this church at the end of a walk a few days ago, just as the weather started to look a little bleak. Perhaps that added to the majestic beauty of this rather remote church though. There was probably some sort of Saxon religious building here, although the structure now dates primarily to the twelfth and fifteenth centuries.

    Some of the church looks modern, but this is because of a serious fire in the late 1960s which meant that nearly everything inside was lost and the roof was also destroyed. Fortunately, the situation at Bixley was avoided and the church was rebuilt, but this time no longer with a thatched roof.

    The round tower is from the twelfth century if the listed building record is accurate, and they usually are, although it just looks a bit older to me. The top bit of the tower, which I’m not entirely sure fits in, was added in the fifteenth century.

    Wikipedia notes, so it must be true, that William Haslam was the vicar here in the 1860s and he managed to be converted into a more evangelical approach by listening to his own sermon. That’s one persuasive vicar…..

    There is also the beginning of an interesting story which was repeated in the Norfolk News in 1888 from times long past, which is that the notorious criminal Bartholomew de Devonshyre killed Adam Wyre in Hemblington and then rushed to Hassingham to seek sanctuary at St. Mary’s Church. Unfortunately, there was no mass media at the time and details on this story are somewhat hard to find.

    Not relating to the church, but instead to Broad Farm opposite, there was a huge invasion of coypu in 1960. The local farmer, Wesley Key, said “we catch coypus at the rate of fifty a week, but they still multiply as fast as ever”. Fortunately for the farmer, these have now been eradicated from the British countryside, but I have visions of the coypu over-running the church as well…..