HampshireCam Travels ~ Norfolk Odyssey - Page 2
 

The Reepham town sign was installed in June 1992. It shows a group of three of everything - churches, villagers, farm labourers, sheep, lambs, and the "sisters". The design is the work of the local High School. All elements are based upon the myth that three sisters were responsible for building a church each. But the medieval churches, all three in the same churchyard were built over a span of several generations. One was burnt down in the Great Fire of Reepham 1543, so, except for a part of a derelict wall and some graves, only two churches now remain.

 

Churches sharing churchyards is not uncommon in East Anglia. In medieval times each parish had its own place of worship, and the three churches of Reepham were hard against the three parish borders of Reepham, Whitwell and Hackford. When they were built, they were not used for 'services' in the way we do today. The church was designed to allow for private devotions, the administration of sacraments and Masses to be said at different altars by different priests etc. After the Reformation in the 16th century and the advent of services at set times it made sense for churches who shared the same Rector to demolish one building and use the other. Hackford's church was destroyed by fire in 1546, and the two surviving churches remained in separate parishes until the 1930s. In 1970 Whitwell church was declared redundant and became the parish hall.


Whitwell Church now the parish hall.                       St. Mary's Church.
 

All that remains of Hackford Church destroyed by fire in 1543. Masonry from Hackford church was used in the expansion of Whitwell church.

 

The nave of Reepham St. Mary.


The monument of Sir Roger de Kerdiston (d.1337) a landowner in the middle ages. This is described as a very fine and important piece of medieval sculpture, and survives remarkably intact. On top of the tomb-chest lies the figure of Sir Roger, in armour on a bed of cobbles, the significance of the cobbles has long been debated. The ten small figures on the base of the tomb are called "weepers". Right, one of a series of stained glass windows in the chancel telling the story of Jesus' life.


Two of the carved animals from the medieval benches at the back of the nave.


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All Photographs copyright David Packman © 2002 - 2009 (All Rights Reserved)