Wymondham Abbey

Wymondham Abbey, in Norfolk, is a Norman church that has its origins in 1107 as a monastic church. Much of the stone was shipped from Normandy, in France. The central tower is a late 14th century replacement and the church was enlarged in the mid 1400s when a hammer beam roof with carved life sized angels was added. The dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII resulted in the demolition of monastic buildings but the stone was re-used and parts of the church further enlarged in the mid 1500s.

Inside the church can be found an impressive organ dating form 1793, the aforementioned carved angels and a more recent gilded altar screen which was dedicated in 1921 as a war memorial.

In 2016 following a fund raising campaign a new extension was built to house historic displays and information boards as well as provide vestries and a refreshment area.

Despite visiting Norfolk more times that I can remember over the years the Abbey had previously escaped my notice but we called in on Christmas Eve to finally catch up on what we were missing.

Desert Rats

The Desert Rats was the nickname of the 7th Armoured division of the British Army. Formed in 1938 the unit spent nearly all of WWII overseas, initially in North Africa but then France and Germany. The one time the unit returned to the UK it was based in Thetford Forest in Norfolk. A memorial has been erected in the unit's honour and their camp is now a walking trail with information boards detailing life within the camp. Not much else is there to see other than the outlines of Nissen hut bases between the trees and a fenced off private museum.

All Saints , Hethel

I popped by All Saints on Christmas Eve to look at the memorial to the 389th Bombardment Group USAAF that flew from Hethel airfield in WWII. The church is a bit out of the way down a dead end country lane but it was never the less open. It is only a small church and the Norman tower has been dated to 1110 AD but there is also a later 17th century addition that was a private chapel to the loacal Branthwaite family and is home to a large alabaster monument.

Ramsgate Lumiere

Ramsgate Lumiere is a light festival in the town lasting 6 weeks until New Year's Eve. It features some special parades and live music but is primarily inspired by the annual harbour lights display which I snapped New Year's Eve last year. We went for a wander at the weekend and here is some of what is on display.

Cromer (again)

I was in Cromer a little over 18 months ago and posted a few images here but a couple of weeks ago we headed back to celebrate an anniversary of sorts so had anothe wander around. Naturally we had our usual walk up to Happy Valley and back along the beach which I covered last time but we also visted the church in the town which was the starting point of my last post but I still managed a couple of snaps which are largely variations on a theme but here are some of them.