The Church and its History

 

In his “Norfolk Churches”, Bryant tells us that in King Edgar’s time (944 - 975) the Manor at Thorpe Abbotts belonged to Ailfric the Good, Bishop of Elmham, who gave it to the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds (St Edmundsbury).  It remained with them until the Dissolution. “Thorpe” comes from the Danish for farm or settlement. The Manor was apportioned for the Abbott’s own use, hence the name Thorpe “Abbotts”.  The name changed later in 1546 to Thorpe Cornwallis, the family name of the Lords of the Manor who had purchased the estate after the dissolution.  The original name of Thorpe Abbotts reappears again in the 17th Century, however in the Rectory building plans of 1840 interestingly it was referred to as Thorpe Cornwallis.

Saxon or Norman?

Opinion is divided regarding the date of All Saints Church – Saxon or Norman? The church designated “All Saints” is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but with certain Saxon features the main part of the church must have been in existence well before this. The farm next to the Church is now known as Hall Farm (referred to as “The Hall” on an 1889 map and on occasions “The Manor House” or “Thorpe Hall” in census) and therefore perhaps,  the location of the Estate or Parish manor house and hence the reason for the church being some 500m from the current village. The original "Thorpe" must have been centred on this area which is just 300m from the church although now a private house.

As you look around the village today you will see that all bar two of the houses are 19th century or later. The owner of main house, formerly Brockdish Hall (built in the 18th Century) now Thorpe Place owned most of the parish. The incumbant, Lord Justice Kay built 7 double dwellers (semi detached) and an Almshouse for the estate workers from the 1880's onwards, the last in 1906. He provided, in addition a source of water, the hand pump which still remains in the center of the village. These houses provided the nucleus from which the modern day village grew.

 

Prior to the arrival of the Normans after Hastings in 1066 the Saxons had no cut stone available and used fieldstone to support corners and arches.  There are two significant examples of this, indicating an early date for the north wall, (which did not suffer the Victorian restoration evident in the south wall). On the outside of the north wall, (about a third of the way down the Nave), the remains of a Saxon doorway can be seen, complete with round headed arch and jambs of flint.  On the eastern corner of the nave, fieldstones have been used as quoins (cornerstones).

The Tower

The current tower west window is of a decorated style (c. 1300’s) but when observed from inside, the original semi-circular window arch can be seen.  This, together with the deep splay of the window, suggests an early date for at least the lower part of the tower. Interestingly the window style from the outside matches that of the upper octagonal section of the tower. The north wall of the tower has a fireplace and chimney which are clearly contemporary with the lower tower's construction with the chimney venting near the top of the rounded section, which is matched by a slightly larger vent in the tower's south wall. To my mind the hearth is the reason for the tower wall being some 5ft thick.

 

Most probably the toweer was a leter addition to the church. Viewed from the inside there appears to be high tower arcin the west wall. However there is no indication of this internally in the tower which means the infill is most probably that of the original West Window.

 

It is considerd by some that the octagonal upper section is a later addition to the tower. There is however no indication internally of a second phase with the rounded interior extending about half way up the first octagonal stage. I believe that it was all built as one project probably in C13th or C14th and is contemporary with the two windows in the south wall of the nave.

The Porch

The Porch has two windows with brick mullions and surrounds, one on each side. It is Tudor in origin as evidenced by the square flint work that can be seen at the base of the western wall. It would appear to have been lime washed and there is evidence that the door was picked out in yellow ochre.

 

The Iron Gates of the churchyard date from 1885 and were placed to the memory of Mr J L King who lived at Thorpe Hall Farm and whose initials can be seen on the left gate.  The name over the gates was donated in 1967 by Mr Homer Young of Hall Farm.

 

The most recent work of internal decoration, roof work and installation of floodlighting (2003) have been funded by the Friends of Thorpe Abbotts Church (FOTAC), other bodies and the very generous support of the parish. 2007 has seen the instalation of a sound system which together with a loop has made life a good deal clearer for many of our parishoners. Very generously funded by FOTAC.

Graveyard Survey

We are currently undertaking a grave yard survey and linking it in with the Burial and Baptismal records which exist back to the mid 16th Century. If you would like to look at the latest details you can do so in either Excel spreadsheet format or as a PDF file.