I went away on Saturday to stay with friends in Bury St. Edmunds.
However, on the way I stopped off at a number of churches to take photographs of the organs in order to submit them to the NPOR. I also wanted to visit a church in the village where some of my mother's family used to live in the 19th century. I can tell you it was very cold getting out of the car to investigate and take photos.
I found Hemmingford Grey but there was building work in the church so the organ was covered by a tarpaulin.
On to Fenstanton and I had more success. The last time I went there was in the 1970s on a bell-ringing outing when they were a rough-going 5. They had a 6th bell installed and I guess they go much better given that they rang a peal there in about 1996 (if I remember the peal plaque correctly)
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| Fenstanton |
After a quick lunch from the local baker (incidentally the worst egg and mayo roll I have ever had - tasteless!) I made my way to Swavesey and I did discover the grave of two Trundleys, although I need to do more research to find out how they fit it to my tree. Most of my ancestors were born and married there; I did not know of any that died there, so I was quite pleased to find this one.
Next it was on to Longstanton [there is a strong RAF connection here] which is a well cared-for church, quite comfortable inside and very security conscious. The organ case was not very noteworthy but the stained glass was lovely.
On a more gruesome note this is to be found in the South of the church.
[Quoting This Site] The southern half of the chapel is filled with a most extraordinary 18th century construction. The floor level of the transept drops a couple of feet at that point, so that the southern end is half way to being a crypt – and then, from floor level, rises a big block, about five feet high and filling the width of the chapel, blocking off the remains of some rather interesting-looking medieval niches. The surface is slightly uneven, with rounded edges and a surface of plaster which is sufficiently rough that it resembles adobe. At the top of the north face is a black marble plaque which reads ‘Sepulchrum 1770’. Arranged below it are twelve shallow niches, broader than they are tall, and unadorned save for a very shallow curve on their upper edge. Most of these contain black marble plaques commemorating members of the Hatton family. [©2009 Ben Colburn & Mark Ynys-Mon]
After this I drove on to Bury but arriving before the agreed time I diverted to Risby where there is a delightful little church (at least on the outside) with a squat tower I have not seen before.
After this I drove on to Bury but arriving before the agreed time I diverted to Risby where there is a delightful little church (at least on the outside) with a squat tower I have not seen before.
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| Risby tower, Suffolk. |
