Reepham Society members visit Salle church

On Saturday 2 August, the Reepham Society visited St Peter & St Paul church at Salle.
 

Several Reepham Society members climbed to the roof of Salle church tower

 
The afternoon began with an informative and entertaining tour by churchwarden Jolyon Booth that included the history of the church and its benefactors, the impressive architectural features, and the exquisite and sometimes quirky oak carvings of beasts and birds that the mediaeval craftsmen could never have seen in real life.
 
Afterwards, some Society members climbed in semi-darkness up the narrow spiral staircase, past the gloom of the belfry to the sunny roof of one of the highest church towers in the county.
 
There, the landscape of north Norfolk stretched all around with sister towers rising above the green and gold and, in the far distance, the spire of Norwich cathedral was just visible.
 
However, one did not have to look across the fields and woods, or even down to the buildings and cricket match below, for interest because etched in the lead roof on which we stood was a wealth of ancient graffiti; the names of folk long gone, dates (the oldest I found was 1702) and the outlines of feet, small and large, scratched into the soft grey metal.
 
The afternoon ended with tea, cakes and sandwiches and a good deal of discussion about how, as one enters Salle church through the ancient oak door, one steps into 600 unbroken years of English history and heritage.
 
It is a great place to show friends and visitors and if you do visit there is plenty of good pre-reading online.
 
Mike Cowdrey, Chairman, The Reepham Society
www.reephamsociety.org.uk
 

The view from Salle church tower, one of the highest in Norfolk

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