St Peter & St Paul Church, Salle, Norfolk

There was a great deal of money about when this church was built. At least four Lords of Manors, with newly acquired wealth from wool, had land within the parish. They wanted a big church to accommodate at least six Gild Chapels and also to rival the church at Cawston that was being rebuilt by gentleman with "old" money. The Gilds were a combination of trades union, employment agency, standards board and access to divine protection. Supporting a Gild, especially by paying for a Chaplain and up to three Clerks for each Chapel, was necessary for success in business. Without membership of the Holy Trinity Gild at Coventry, for example, wool could not be sold to the European mainland.

Apart from Early English tracery in two north windows, the building is uniquely all of one style - Perpendicular. It was built in a very short time with no changes of design during the building and no later additions. Building began in 1400 and was largely completed in 1430. The nave and aisles were built together in the first phase and the two transepts and the south porch in the second phase.

At the end of the 19th century the church was in a terrible state of disrepair especially the windows and roof. Sir Woolmer White owner of the Salle Estate, and Sir Alfred Jodrell joined forces with others to fund repair. Thanks to intervention of Duleep Singh the owner of Elveden Estate and an enthusiast for medieval buildings, this was done as a restoration according to teh philosophy of William Morris rather than a Gothic Renovation. As much original material as possible was retained and the new material did not imitate the old but was left clearly distinct from it. This is most obvious in the roof beams where 15th century paint can still be seen.