Lowestoft - The Walking Men

As part of Rosey`s Suffolk Coastal Walk, we stayed overnight in Lowestoft. We had stayed here for a night back in 2009 when we were visiting a local nature Reserve, so a couple of these images are from that visit as well. The idea of this trip, this time, was to cover the Lowestoft to Kessingland section of the trail and to see the Walking Men statues.

This is a view that greeted us along the beach with our hotel just above the furthest coloured beach hut. The first time we stayed here was at the house where Benjamin Britton grew up, but this time we stayed at the Hotel Victoria - not too far away from there but facing the sea.

Our first stay was here at the house of the famous composer.

The Hotel Victoria, our stay for this visit.

As we had come for the walk down to Kessingland, we did that as soon as we parked the car and took a few photos of the beach and made a note of where the Walking Men were. They were one of the things we definately wanted to see, as they are being removed at the end of the month. The walk itself went well and after catching a bus back to our start we visited the Walking Men

So, for the famous statues. Five 8ft (2.4m) statues were installed on the beach ahead of a free festival taking place in the town. The Walking Men sculpture by Laurence Edwards has travelled throughout the UK and was previously put on display in Australia.

The statues were placed on South Beach as part of the First Light Festival and they will remain there until the end of August.

Mr Edwards, who also made the Yoxman sculpture, said it was a "gift" to have his work placed on the beach. "I love the idea of these moving people, moving through the landscape to try and work out where their place is - it's a lovely theme," he explained.

"This is such a gift to get a spot on a beach with all this hardcore gear to manoeuvre and place them. It's almost unheard of so I'm thrilled to have this location and this incredible town at my fingertips."

Two more views of he WALKING MEN

Another view of he manicuerd beach!

East Point Pavilion

RNLI Lifeboat at South Pier

Ness Point, also known as Lowestoft Ness, is the most easterly point in England, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles. It's located at 52°29′N 1°46′E. Ness Point is the first place in the UK to see the sunrise.

Opposite Ness Point is an artistic structure which has unfortunately been vandalised but I liked the face painted on it, possible at a later date.

Two giant artificial 'birds nests' have been built to help home vulnerable seabirds in what is believed to be a world's first. The 26-feet tall metal structures have been built one kilometre off South Beach in Lowestoft.

Pakenham church which we passed as we walked.

Copied from Suffolk Coastal Escapes:

"The foundations of the first Christian church in Pakefield likely predated Roman occupation.

The church we can see now dates back to the 12th century.Most of the medieval splendor of Pakefield Church succumbed to Cromwell’s actions. The 10th-century Domesday Book mentioned a pair of semi-detached churches.

Built c1000, on the boundary of two manors. The Lords of the two manors, Pakefield Pyes and Rothenhale, both wished to build a church with the west end of the building over the sarsen stone. (a large ancient Sarcsn Stone remains under the church.) In doing so the congregation, when facing the Christian altar, had their backs to the ancient stone which was formerly used as an altar in heathen worship. An agreement between the local Lords was reached to set a dividing wall between the two churches over the sarsen stone.

The original porches of both churches remain today. The north side of today’s church is what was St. Margaret’s. Beyond the central arches lies All Saints church, marked by its 15th-century south porch. This peculiar arrangement reflects the unique history of Pakefield’s dual churches.

Both churches were extended and remained independent through the centuries. In 1411 Robert Graunt became the first rector to oversee both churches. Graunt made efforts to join the churches by opening up arches in the adjoining wall. However, it was not until 1748 that common sense prevailed. The two churches were legally and permanently joined to become the Parish Church of All Saints and Saint Margaret.

In 1930 major restoration of the medieval splendour of the church began. But just two years after completion, on the night of 21st April 1941, two incendiary bombs were dropped on the thatched roof with disastrous results. Fortunately, the walls remained fairly sound and intact, and the tower was not damaged, but the roof and most of the furnishings were either destroyed or rendered unusable, The church remained in this condition until the war was over.

Pakefield Church, however, became England’s first post-war rebuilt church, rededicated in 1950. The re-dedication was performed by the Bishop of Norwich on Sunday 29th January 1950."

Finally we made it just past Kessingland and called it a day, for today, catching a bus back to our starting point. A lovely walk and an enjoyable day.

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Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

A visit to London was planned for today - a day which turned out to be the hottest of the year so far! However, with plenty of suncream and water to drink, we ventured to our main point of interest which was the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. I had not seen this before and when we arrived outside it appears hundreds more had not either!

So, here are the people outside the Palace, occupying any vantage point possible while the music rose from in front of them. What we then decided was to be in position to see them marching past when they left the Palace and watch for the ones returning to their barracks.

Here are a couple of images of guards marching up The Mall toward us

Some from the Palace assembling ready to march down The Mall

More arriving from The Mall 

The gardens in front of the Palace were beautiful

At the top of these sets of steps, known as The Duke of York Steps, and looking down on St James Park and The Mall, stands an imposing granite column topped by a regal bronze statue of Prince Frederick, Duke of York and son of King George III.

The Duke of York Column was designed by Benjamin Wyatt, one of the foremost architects of his day, and erected in 1834. It stands 124 feet high, with a small viewing platform just below the statue.

We then walked down The Mall with the intention of going to the British Museum, but after a short look at the Egyptian display, the heat got the better of us and we made our way back the cool of the train station ready to head home.

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The amazing ceiling of St Mary - Huntingfield

Suffolk has a magnificent legacy in its hundreds of churches, which tell the story of medieval times and onward. One of the many such churches was on the itinerary for today. Having read about the magnificent ceiling decorations in St Marys in Huntingfield, this was our  main aim for today. Not medieval I know, but an amazing Victorian legacy.

This post was originally made in 2019 but I have moved it to today after a revisit and some added info and images

I have started photographing the village signs that we come across, so this was one to add to the collection.- Huntingfield. The name conjours up all sorts of images of time past.

The existing church certainly dates from the 11th century but there are signs that there had been a chapel here long before. The first church was built by the family who took their name from the village and lived in the manor for 250 years, the Lords de Huntingfield.

The chancel was added in the thirteenth century and the brick section (above) on the north side was added in the 18C as a chapel for the Vanneck family - the Vannecks being Barons of Huntingfield at the period.

By the end of the fourteenth, the south side of the nave had been altered and both aisles had been built in the fashionable Gothic style with its pointed arches. The five small high, or clerestory, windows on the south side of the nave would have provided light into the nave, the advent of affordable glass having made such things possible.

The east window of the south aisle has all that remains of the medieval glass that would once have filled many of the windows. There is a record of what was still to be seen here in the sixteenth century which lists the memorial windows with the coats of arms borne by the families who once owned the Manor.

The windows of the south aisle are particularly pretty and date from the fifteenth century. Their Perpendicular style is indicated by their familiar flat-topped shape. The porch is also from the fifteenth century. The font dates from the fourteenth century.

Virgin Mary over the front porch.

Inside the porch was this stoup. A holy water font or stoup is a vessel containing holy water which is generally placed near the entrance of a church. It is often placed at the base of a crucifix or religious representation. It is used in the Catholic Church, Anglican Churches, and some Lutheran churches to make the Sign of the Cross using the holy water upon entrance of the church. Holy water is blessed by a priest or a deacon, and many Christians believe it to be a reminder of the baptismal promises.

Inside the church, before you even look up, there is evidence that this church was heavily influenced by the ideas of the Oxford Movement. Almost Catholic in parts.

But for the main story - the Reverend William Holland 1813-1891, of Boston Lincs, M.A. of Lincoln College Oxford 1840, was Rector of Huntingfield  from 1849-1891. In 1835 he married Mildred Keyworth Holland 1813-1878 at Skendleby Lincs.
What the vicar of Huntingfield had in his new wife, and many other ministers didn't, was a visionary wife. Between 1859 and 1866, Mrs Mildred Holland planned, designed and executed the most elaborate redecoration of a church this county had seen since the Reformation. For seven years, she lay on her back at the top of scaffolding, first in the chancel (angels) and then in the nave (saints on the ceilure, fine angels on the beam ends), gilding, lettering and painting this most glorious of small church roofs. Her husband, the Reverend William Holland, kept a journal throughout this period, and there is no suggestion that she had any assistance, beyond that of workmen to raise the scaffolding, and a Mr E.L. Blackburne FSA, who was, apparently, an 'authority on medieval decoration'.

According to rumour, by the time she was nearly finished with the mural, Mildred had become unable to stand from the pain of painting upright for so long and had to work lying down.

 

The ceiling is a masterpiece of Victorian church decoration, painted from end to end in brilliant colours, with carved and coloured angels, with banners, crowns and shields, all in the medieval style and of a most intricate and detailed finish.

The scheme of decoration is important as it reflects the ecclesiastical devotion of the late Victorian period clergy and their patrons, combined with the heightened liturgical practices of the Oxford Movement.

It is truly magnificent, and one can only gaze in awe at the work of this amazing woman.

A closer view of the Chancel ceiling.







One of many interesting pew ends

Mildred Holland died in 1878; William served on until 1892, a total of forty years. He gave the font cover (Below) in memory of his wife and also the brass lectern with its graceful angels and winged dragons.(Above)

Their graves are in the churchyard to the west of the entrance gates. Side by side they lie, beneath a table tomb alongside a standing cross.

This church is a `must see` if you have the chance. I know its a church, but to me its a memorial too, to an amazing and dedicated woman.

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RSPB Frampton Marshes

This was a place we were looking forward to seeing. It was in fact really close by to where we were staying.

According to the RSPB site: Blessed with a variety of freshwater habitats, Frampton Marsh provides close views of the abundant birdlife of The Wash - the biggest bay in England. Avocets, Redshanks and Skylarks can all be seen in summer, with thousands of ducks gathering on the freshwater scrapes in winter.

This is a landscape surrounded by waters teeming with life. The reserve is set against the shore of The Wash, the UK’s most important estuary for birds. Explore freshwater wetlands, reedbeds, wet grasslands and large shallow pools known as scrapes.

Here a few images to remember the day.

A gathering of Black Tailed Godwits

Black -tailed Godwits in flight

Sedge Warbler

Reed Bunting

Sand Martins

Spoonbills

Young Shelduck

We followed some of the trails and photographed some of the birds, but of course you need to visit a few times at different time of the year to appreciate this wonderful site - we had just a few hours on one day. but had a wonderful time neverless.

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Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is a family run museum and was set up in 1989. It is now widely seen as a living memorial to the 55,573 men of Bomber Command who lost their lives during WW2. It holds two of the rarest aircraft, an Avro Lancaster Bomber MKVII and DH Mosquito NFII, in its collection along with many wartime vehicles including a Ford WOT1 Crew Bus, the only one of its kind in existence.

The owners feel that Bomber Command has never been given the recognition that it deserves and they see it as their job to educate both old and young as to the acts of heroism and dedication shown by Bomber Command throughout the Second World War. 

The average age of air crew, each man a volunteer, was 22 and not even 1 in 4 completed their first tour of 30 operations, most definitely a debt that we cannot repay but also a debt that should not be forgotten.

The Heritage Centre is based on the old wartime airfield of RAF East Kirkby and retains the original 1940's Control Tower and the Hangar is built on the original wartime hangar base. The Museum is built up entirely around RAF Bomber Command and is expanding every year. It is their common ambition to fully rebuild it to a complete original wartime airfield preserving the memory of Bomber Command for many years to come.

We were not quite sure of what we would see on this visit, but as it was not a huge distance from Kirton, (at East Kirkby) we decided to pay a visit. Although we went on a casual visit, we were very fortunate to arrive on a day when the Lancaster was being brought out for some taxi runs down the grass runway, while paying people enjoyed a ride and are able to explore the whole aircraft internally.

Avro Lancaster Bomber MKVII being moved from the hanger

Getting ready!

Engines all started (the noise!) and moving down the grass

Making its way back to the spectator area

A couple of images of identification. It really was worth seeing so close and to hear of their aims and achievments so far.

From their website I have copied their aims for the restoration:

Restoring Avro Lancaster NX611 'Just Jane' to airworthy condition

The future for NX611

The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre is currently working through a programme of restoration with Avro Lancaster NX611 with the aim of taking her to an airworthy condition.

It has been our ultimate ambition to be able to restore NX611 to an airworthy condition but also keep her accessible for the general public to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere created by a Lancaster. For us to keep NX611 as a credible 'peoples memorial' to Bomber Command available to many people, no matter their background or financial situation (After all those that flew with Bomber Command came from every imaginable background) we must strike a healthy balance between keeping her in a good condition but also allowing the public to experience her.

The aircraft is being worked through part by part on a long term restoration project with progress being made throughout the years while NX611 continues to taxy from March to November.  The whole project is estimated to cost £4million all of which is being raised through museum admission fees, donations and Lancaster taxy rides.

Throughout the restoration process we will continue to taxy NX611 for demonstration and public taxy rides, even once NX611 is restored to an airworthy condition it would continue to be available to the public for taxy rides and internal tours, we are aiming to keep it as accessible as it currently is.

Overall, a great day out and well worth the visit.

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