Bramfield church with its detached tower

On wander in north Suffolk, we had intended to visit the thatched church at Bramfield.

However, on arriving, the first thing which grabbed our attention wasn`t the church. It was a  crinkle crankle wall, also known as a crinkum crankum, serpentine, ribbon or wavy wall, is an unusual type of garden wall. The crinkle crankle wall economizes on bricks, despite its sinuous configuration, because it can be made just one brick thin, also known as a crinkum crankum, serpentine, ribbon or wavy wall. It is an unusual type of garden wall. The crinkle crankle wall economizes on bricks, despite its sinuous configuration, because it can be made just one brick thin.

The crinkle crankle wall

Opposite is the glorious thatched church of St.Andrew with its attractive lytchgate. St.Andrew's, together with St.Peter's at nearby Thorington, are both round tower churches of which there are less than fifty throughout Suffolk. The round tower at Bramfield is over thirteen metres high with a wall thickness of over a metre and houses five bells, three of which date from 1440. However, Bramfield St.Andrew is unique in Suffolk in that here the round tower is completely detached from the body of the church. Remarkably, it is thought that the tower has always stood alone as there is no evidence to the contrary.

Note the lovely thatched roof. 

Another view, this time from the rear.

One of the first features which catches the attention, is the Rood Screen. The rood screen (also choir screen, chancel screen, or jube) is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron. The rood screen would originally have been surmounted by a rood loft carrying the Great Rood, a sculptural representation of the Crucifixion. At Wells Cathedral the medieval arrangement was restored in the 20th century, with the medieval strainer arch supporting a rood, placed in front of the pulpitum and organ. Rood screens can be found in churches in many parts of Europe. However, in Catholic countries they were generally removed during the Counter-reformation, when the retention of any visual barrier between the laity and the high altar was widely seen as inconsistent with the decrees of the Council of Trent. Accordingly, rood screens now survive in much greater numbers in Anglican and Lutheran churches; with the greatest number of survivals complete with screen and rood figures in Scandinavia.

A close up of the detail, and below are two images from the paintings at the base.

The series of panel paintings originally comprised the Evangelists and four other saints, of which five remain. From left to right, they are: Saints Mark and Matthew, (both repainted). And BELOW, Saints Luke, John and Mary Magdalene. The Magdalen with her jar of ointment is richly dressed in a pale rose robe like a Flemish grand dame, and the paintings may well have come from the same hand as those at Yaxley and Sotherton. 

The beautiful, but poignant,  memorial to Mrs Arthur Coke who died in childbirth in 1627

The Lychgate - Lych is derived from the Old English 'lich', meaning corpse. They were meeting places and shelters for the party bringing a corpse for burial, and for the priest to receive the corpse. Although some had been built earlier, the 1549 Prayer Book required the priest to meet the corpse at the churchyard entrance. This encouraged the provision of lych-gates to shelter the corpse and the funeral party for that purpose. 

Medieval lych-gates were made of timber and most have long since disappeared. 

However, many new lych-gates were erected in Victorian times, sometimes as memorials to prominent local people or as war memorials.

Not sure of the age of this one. 

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Waxwings in Ipswich

"Surprise arrival of rare ‘cartoon birds’ on random Suffolk street causes a stir" so read the headline in a local newspaper this January! 

"But these rare waxwings are causing something of a stir after flying all the way from Scandinavia and randomly picking an Ipswich street to nest for winter.

The 20 or so of the brightly coloured birds are currently camped out on telegraph poles, television aerials and in trees in Defoe Road - picking Suffolk, perhaps surprisingly, for its warmer winter climate.

They have brought with them a flock of their own - in the form of nature lovers with binoculars and cameras, who have travelled from far and wide to capture a glimpse of the rare birds famous for their plump shape and prominent crest.

In scenes watchers have described as something out of a cartoon, the creatures fly down from their perches to eat berries from trees, comically tossing the fruit up in the air before taking a bite."

Waxwings are starling-sized, stout-bodied, short-legged birds with an upstanding, pointed crest. They have black throats, black wings with white, yellow and waxy red markings and yellow-tipped tails.Just one species breeds in Europe and visits the UK erratically in winter during 'irruption years'. Irruptions occur when population increases and shortages of food, particularly rowan berries, in its normal European range trigger large movements of birds to the south and west.

What could we do but join the flock with our cameras, and many layers of warm clothing in the chill morning.?

We had not been waiting very long when down they came! I must confess we were a little surprised to see them that quickly.

The perched on tv aerials, in the trees and then onto the electric poles and wires.

From never having seen one in my life to 15 on an aerial just above me - magic. There were several more near these ones, but the lens only allowed me to see this bunch. All in all a great morning and one to remember for a long time.

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Hoar frost in Layham

On a cold clear morning, fog appeared as if by magic, and just as we were having breakfast. I returned later from a morning walk, and the trees certainly seemed to be turning white, but not to to any  great degree - until we looked closer as the sun started to poke through the mist.

Suddenly, it seemed, the world had turned white! So, armed with cameras we headed out to have a closer look at this beautiful world that had descended.

The view of the trees in front of our bungalow with a brilliant blue sky as a backdrop to this magical Hoar Frost

Hoar frost forms when the water vapour in the air comes into contact with solid surfaces that are already below freezing point. Ice crystals form immediately, and the ice continues to grow as more water vapour is frozen. On a still night, it can grow well on tree branches, where the surface temperature is unlikely to rise above zero for many hours.

The size of the frost that forms is dependent on how much water vapour is available to ‘feed’ the ice crystals as they grow. Hoar frost has a very distinctive appearance as it forms hair-like or feathery structures as it grows. 

The Layham Playing Field, looking toward the Conservation area. All these images were taken within 200 meters of our bungalow.

Ice on the Brett and the mist dispersing in the background.

 A mist view toward our bungalow

It is difficult to appreciate, but this white wonderland completely disappeared within the hour!

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One frosty morning - Flatford

Flatford Mill is a beautiful site at most times of the year, but the appearance of a good frost said `off to Flatford and a walk by the river`. What we were not expecting was the whole area covered in a Hoar frost. Beautiful!

This image is of Bridge Cottage from the start of the Deham riverside walk. 

So onto the different types of frost (nothing is simple is it?)

Ground frost - A ground frost refers to the formation of ice on the ground, objects or trees, whose surface have a temperature below the freezing point of water. During situations when the ground cools quicker than the air, a ground frost can occur without an air frost. A grass frost, an un-official type of ground frost, can occur when other surfaces - such as concrete or road surfaces - don't experience a frost, due to their better ability at holding onto any warmth. It is possible for a grass frost to occur in late spring or even early summer when the risk of more wide-spread frosts has disappeared and is something that gardeners in particular need to be aware of. 

Air frost - An air frost occurs when the air temperature falls to or below the freezing point of water. An air frost is usually defined as the air temperature being below freezing point of water at a height of at least one metre above the ground. 

Hoar frost - Hoar frost is composed of tiny ice crystals and is formed by the same process as dew, but when the temperature of the surface is below freezing point. The 'feathery' variety of hoar frost forms when the surface temperature reaches freezing point before dew begins to form on it. A 'white' frost, composed of more globular ice, occurs when the dew forms first, then subsequently freezes. The presence of fog tends to prevent the formation of hoar frost as it reduces the potential for radiational cooling of surfaces. 

So now you know!

A close up of how the frost builds up into beautiful shapes.

Then the grass on the river bank completely smothered in frost.

And another close up.

There was activity, especially on the water, despite the biting cold. Like these canoeists - complete with the radio playing. Fancy spoiling the peace of this glorious morning!

Then of course a pair of graceful swans.

Followed by a touch of standup paddleboarding

The sun breaking through the trees.

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Kiss and Tell - Christchurch Mansion

Rodin's The Kiss is on display at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, alongside work by John Constable and Suffolk sculptor Ellen Mary Rope. Museum curator Emma Roodhouse said it was "a dream come true" to have such an iconic sculpture on show. The 1882 sculpture, on loan from the Tate, depicts the adulterous lovers Paolo and Francesca, who were mentioned in Dante's Inferno. What an opportunity to see this great work of art - and all for free!

The Kiss (c.1884) 

Christchurch Mansion where The Kiss is currently displayed. 

François Auguste René Rodin (12 November 1840 – 17 November 1917), known as Auguste Rodin, was a French sculptor. Although Rodin is generally considered the progenitor of modern sculpture, he did not set out to rebel against the past. He was schooled traditionally, took a craftsman-like approach to his work, and desired academic recognition, although he was never accepted into Paris's foremost school of art. 

Rodin possessed a unique ability to model a complex, turbulent, deeply pocketed surface in clay. Many of his most notable sculptures were criticized during his lifetime. They clashed with predominant figurative sculpture traditions, in which works were decorative, formulaic, or highly thematic. Rodin's most original work departed from traditional themes of mythology and allegory, modeled the human body with realism, and celebrated individual character and physicality. Rodin was sensitive to the controversy surrounding his work, but refused to change his style. Successive works brought increasing favor from the government and the artistic community. 

From the unexpected realism of his first major figure – inspired by his 1875 trip to Italy – to the unconventional memorials whose commissions he later sought, Rodin's reputation grew, and he became the preeminent French sculptor of his time. By 1900, he was a world-renowned artist. Wealthy private clients sought Rodin's work after his World's Fair exhibit, and he kept company with a variety of high-profile intellectuals and artists. He married his lifelong companion, Rose Beuret, in the last year of both their lives. His sculptures suffered a decline in popularity after his death in 1917, but within a few decades, his legacy solidified. Rodin remains one of the few sculptors widely known outside the visual arts community. 

The Kiss (c.1884) 

Critics gave this sculpture the title The Kiss, but Rodin originally called it Paolo and Francesca, after the story in Dante's Divine Comedy about a young noblewoman who falls in love with her husband's brother. In the story, the couple is killed by the jealous husband, but Rodin focuses instead on their loving embrace. This erotic sculpture was made during the early years of Rodin's relationship with Camille Claudel. It was probably intended to figure in The Gates of Hell. It is not known why these figures were not ultimately included; they do not exhibit the same despair as other figures in the composition, and so Rodin may have concluded that they were ill-suited. Rodin believed in making his work as widely available as possible, and he produced numerous versions of his most popular works, ensuring his fame with future generations. Over 300 bronze copies of The Kiss had been produced by Rodin's death in 1917 

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The City of Norwich

Norwich is the administrative center of Norfolk and a lovely city to visit. It is steeped in history and has many fine buildings, including two Cathedrals and a Castle keep.

To quote Wikipedia: Norwich is a cathedral city in Norfolk, England. Situated on the River Wensum in East Anglia, it lies approximately 100 miles (161 km) north-east of London. It is the county town of Norfolk and is considered the capital of East Anglia, with a population of 141,300. From the Middle Ages until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important. 

The city is the most complete medieval city in the UK, including cobbled streets such as Elm Hill, Timber Hill and Tombland, ancient buildings such as St Andrew's Hall, half-timbered houses such as Dragon Hall, The Guildhall and Strangers' Hall, the Art Nouveau of the 1899 Royal Arcade, many medieval lanes and the winding River Wensum that flows through the city centre towards Norwich Castle. The city has two universities, the University of East Anglia and the Norwich University of the Arts, and two cathedrals, Norwich Cathedral and St John the Baptist Cathedral.

Norwich Cathedral a seen through Erpingham Gate 

Norwich Cathedral is dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. It is the cathedral church for the Church of England Diocese of Norwich. The cathedral was the vision of the 1st Bishop of Norwich, Herbert de Losinga in 1096 and took nearly 200 years to complete. The building itself is built in the shape of a cross and constructed out of light, smooth, Caen stone and grey, fossil filled stone from Northamptonshire. 

The other, the Roman Catholic cathedral, is located on Unthank Road, and was constructed between 1882 and 1910 to designs by George Gilbert Scott, Jr. as a parish church dedicated to John the Baptist, on the site of the Norwich City Gaol. The funds for its construction were provided by Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk. He funded it as a generous gift to the Catholics of Norwich as a sign of thanksgiving for his first marriage to Lady Flora Abney-Hastings. 

In 1976, it was consecrated as the cathedral church for the newly erected Diocese of East Anglia and the seat of the Bishop of East Anglia. In 2014, for the first time since 1558, a Pontifical High Mass was celebrated in this episcopal see's cathedral. 

Born in 1758, Nelson is a Norfolk born hero and his statue has him in the full-dress uniform of a Vice Admiral, accompanied by a telescope and a cannon to reinforce his stature. Nelson has been noted for his inspirational leadership style, and for his military strategy and unconventional tactics. Standing to the West of the Cathedral’s front entrance, he also looks towards Norwich School, where he was briefly a pupil. 

Although he spent much of his life travelling the seas, leading the British Navy into numerous wars and victories, Nelson frequently returned to Norfolk and is quoted as saying ‘I am a Norfolk man, and Glory in being so.’ 

The Cloisters at Norwich Cathedral were built between 1297 and 1318. At 180 feet square, Norwich Cloisters come second only to Salisbury in size. The Monastery itself lay to the south of the Cathedral. The Monks spent most of their working lives here; there are alcoves where books would have been kept and also the original 'lavatorium' the washing area at the entrance to the Refectory. At that time washing was an important part of the Monastic ritual. Originally the Lavatorium consisted of two stories, with the Monks living in dormitories above. Around the Cloisters you can see more roof bosses at closer range; 100 of them alone depict the complete Book of Revelation. 

Spire and south transept viewed from the cloisters 

This memorial commemorates Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (1769-1852). He was the British supreme commander during the Napoleonic Wars and became famous because of his victory in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Later he became prime minister of the United Kingdom. 

Tombland, from the Old English meaning ‘empty space’, was also the site of a popular annual fair. Medieval fairs could get quite rowdy and the events often led to tensions between the monks of Norwich Priory and the townsfolk. 

St Ethelbert’s gate is one of the two main gateways into cathedral close and it was built by the good citizens of Norwich as a penance for their unruly behaviour. 

The story began in 1272 with a growing disagreement between religious men and the citizens of Norwich over rights, duties and boundaries – a number of citizens were even killed by the monks. The monks argued that as men of God they answered to their own justice system and did not abide by city laws. The monks locked the gates to the cathedral; instructing their men to attack anyone who got too close. 

Things got even more heated, however, and the help hired by the murderous monks went on a rampage of violence that swept the city. The mob revolted and not only did they burn down the gates but also St Ethelbert’s church and damaged the cathedral and the cloisters during three days of rioting. 

Once the rioting had been quelled, King Henry III himself came to Norwich and blamed the citizens for the damage - charging huge fines for repairs and rebuilding. 

Even the Pope himself decreed that the entire city of Norwich was to be excommunicated from the church. Which says a lot about the secular justice system at the time and the status of the church. 

The citizens were ordered to build a new entrance into the monastery area and hence - St Ethelbert’s Gate. 

Norwich Castle was founded by William the Conqueror some time between 1066 and 1075. It originally took the form of a motte and bailey. Early in 1067, William the Conqueror embarked on a campaign to subjugate East Anglia, and according to military historian R. Allen Brown it was probably around this time that the castle was founded. It was first recorded in 1075, when Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk, rebelled against William the Conqueror and Norwich was held by his men. A siege was undertaken, but ended when the garrison secured promises that they would not be harmed. 

Norwich is one of 48 castles mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. Building a castle in a pre-existing settlement necessitated the destruction of existing properties. Until the construction of Orford Castle in the mid-12th century under Henry II, Norwich was the only major royal castle in East Anglia. 

The stone keep, which still stands today, was probably built between 1095 and 1110. In about the year 1100, the motte was made higher and the surrounding ditch deepened. During the Revolt of 1173–1174, in which Henry II's sons rebelled against him and started a civil war, Norwich Castle was put in a state of readiness. Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk was one of the more powerful earls who joined the revolt against Henry. With 318 Flemish soldiers that landed in England in May 1174, and 500 of his own men, Bigod advanced on Norwich Castle. They captured it and took fourteen prisoners who were held for ransom. When peace was restored later that year, Norwich was returned to royal control. 

The Normans introduced the Jews to Norwich and they lived close to the castle. A cult was founded in Norwich in the wake of the murder of a young boy, William of Norwich, for which the Jews of the town were blamed. In Lent 1190, violence against Jews erupted in East Anglia and on 6 February (Shrove Tuesday) it spread to Norwich. Some fled to the safety of the castle, but those who did not were killed in their hundreds. 

The castle was used as a prison for felons and debtors from 1220, with additional buildings constructed on the top of the motte next to the keep. The use of the castle as a gaol ended in 1887, when it was bought by the city of Norwich to be used as a museum. 

The forebuilding attached to the keep was pulled down in 1825. Although the keep remains, its outer shell has been repaired repeatedly, most recently in 1835–9 by Anthony Salvin, with James Watson as mason using Bath stone. None of the inner or outer bailey buildings survive, and the original Norman bridge over the inner ditch was replaced in about the year 1825. During the renovation, the keep was completely refaced based faithfully on the original ornamentation. 

See also : Jewish bodies found in medieval well in Norwich

The Saxon market was situated in Tombland, but after the Norman Conquest of 1066 a new market was established in the area known as 'Mancroft'. 

By 1300 the main market in Mancroft stretched from Guildhall Hill almost to St Stephen's Church. Vegetables, fish, meat, bread, cloth, shoes, livestock and many other commodities were each sold in their proper place. A small area was kept for the use of smallholders who brought in produce from the county for sale on market days. 

By the late seventeenth century the market was becoming so congested that a new site for livestock sales had to be found, and in 1738 the livestock market was moved to the 'castell dykes', below the castle mound. There it remained until 1960, when it was transferred to Harford Bridge. 

The main market continued to flourish. At one end stood the meat and fish markets, separated by buildings from the rest of the area where not only vegetables, but also 'cloth, hats, shoes, stockings, rope, books, etc. were sold. 

In the 1930s the whole market was remodelled to accommodate the City Hall, it was opened in 1938. 

Norwich Market is unique in Britain. It boasts over 190 stalls and is the largest Monday-to-Saturday open market in the country - some say Europe! 

St Peter Mancroft is a parish church in the Church of England, in the centre of Norwich, Norfolk. After the two cathedrals, it is the largest church in Norwich and was built between 1430 and 1455. It stands on a slightly elevated position, next to the market placeThe present building was begun in 1430, on the site of an existing church, and consecrated in 1455. It is an ambitious building, 180 feet long and ashlar faced with a tower at the west end. It is a Grade I listed building. 

It has a Norman foundation dating from 1075, a 1463 font, a 1573 Flemish tapestry and medieval glass. The North transept displays a remarkable collection of church silver (one of the finest of any parish church in the country) including the Gleane and Thistle cups, as well as memorabilia associated with its most famous parishioner, the physician-philosopher Thomas Browne, author of Religio Medici (1642) The small lead-covered spire with flying buttresses was added by A.E. Street in 1896. 

In 1850 two L-shaped trenches accommodating a number of acoustic jars were discovered beneath the wooden floor on which the choir stalls had previously stood. The earthenware jars were built into its walls at intervals of about three feet, with the mouths facing into the trenches. 

The ancient medieval city of Norwich within the walls at one time had 36 parish churches, the largest collection of urban medieval buildings in any one city north of the Alps. Ten are still in use by the Church of England, while many are in use for other purposes. 

Reflections in the Forum 

The Forum is one of the most successful Millennium Projects in the UK. It opened in November 2001 and has become an iconic landmark and meeting place in the historic centre of Norwich. 

It is a public building - everyone is welcome seven days a week all year round* - and the eclectic mix of free exhibitions, events, activities, catering, shopping and learning opportunities makes the Forum many things to many people. 

Every day thousands of people come through the front doors to use the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library - the most popular public library in the UK. Many others come to The Forum to enjoy the free exhibitions and events in the huge Atrium, in the Gallery or on Millennium Plain, at the front of the building. 

Café Bar Marzano, on the ground floor, is a popular and lively meeting place and Pizza Express, on mezzanine level, offers spectacular views over Millennium Plain and the city centre beyond. 

The Forum is also the home of BBC East, which broadcasts daily TV and radio news across the Eastern Region, the Norwich Tourist Information Centre, the Forum Shop by Jarrold and MINT, a charity which helps young people find employment. 

I do need to get a good photo though! 

Elm Hill - one of the beautiful cobbled streets in Norwich, once home to many wealthy merchants. 

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Lest We Forget - in Layham

This year marks 100 years from the end of the horrors of the First World War. No, we don't learn do we, because we went to war again 20 years later!

Commemorations were being marked in numerous countries, and the UK in particular marked the occasion in many, and varied ways. Being a small community, our commemorations centered around the local church, and the huge efforts of the volunteers gave us a memorable, and frankly outstanding display.

From the display on the railings outside ....

...to the entrance door .....

.... and then as you entered and looked toward the East end

Walking down the aisle, the effect of the Altar Poppy curtain increases.

Until the full effect is apparent when you stand in front of the altar. Even better with the soldier standing beside it.

The cascade from the pulpit

The pews were adorned with more hand knitted poppies - A good touch I thought.

And last, but not least, the Font. All in all a fitting tribute to those who suffered and died in that great conflict. Well done all those who contributed.

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