East Somerton, Norfolk - St. Mary
The ivy-clad ruin of St. Mary's is in the grounds of the Burnley Hall Estate. The building sees little sunlight and set in the trees it is extremely easy to miss it.
St. Mary survived the Reformation, but the parish was then absorbed into the neighbouring parishes Winterton and West Somerton. The building then operated as a chapel of ease to Burnley Hall until the 17th. century, before falling into disuse. It is likely that the chancel was lost and in ruins even before that, and probably this accelerated the church's demise. Today only the 13th. century west tower, now minus its belfry stage, and the 15th. century nave remain.
Growing in the middle of the nave there is a huge oak tree called 'The Witches Leg'. The logical explanation for this is that a squirrel must have buried an acorn in the ruined nave.
However, according to local legend, it is said that a witch with a wooden leg was buried alive in the the church’s foundations and the church was built around her to contain her evil. As she lay in the ground suffocating with bloodthirsty onlookers standing over her, she cursed her leg to grow into a tree and destroy the church as revenge for her murder
Others variations on the folklore have the tree called 'The Witch’s Finger', growing from the site of her execution and pointing accusingly towards heaven, while another version says that the witch was taken to the abandoned church by villagers who felt it wise to dig her grave on consecrated ground.
The legend goes on to say that if anybody were to walk around the tree three times, the witch’s spirit would be released, however, it’s believed ghostly monks haunt the church and keep intruders from releasing the spirit.
This sheltered area of Norfolk’s coastline was once a hunting ground for witch-finders from the 1580's up to the days of Matthew Hopkin, 'The Witchfinder General', who's reign of terror lasted from March 1644 until his retirement in 1647. The persecution of so called witches, paid for by the people amounted to state-sanctioned murder. Whipped into a froth of fear and suspicion, the county was quick to condemn and just as fast to commit. If East Somerton’s villagers discovered what they believed to be witchcraft in their midst, they would not have thought before acting.
St. Mary's received Grade; II listed building status on 25th. September 1962. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 402081).
East Somerton, Norfolk - St. Mary
The ivy-clad ruin of St. Mary's is in the grounds of the Burnley Hall Estate. The building sees little sunlight and set in the trees it is extremely easy to miss it.
St. Mary survived the Reformation, but the parish was then absorbed into the neighbouring parishes Winterton and West Somerton. The building then operated as a chapel of ease to Burnley Hall until the 17th. century, before falling into disuse. It is likely that the chancel was lost and in ruins even before that, and probably this accelerated the church's demise. Today only the 13th. century west tower, now minus its belfry stage, and the 15th. century nave remain.
Growing in the middle of the nave there is a huge oak tree called 'The Witches Leg'. The logical explanation for this is that a squirrel must have buried an acorn in the ruined nave.
However, according to local legend, it is said that a witch with a wooden leg was buried alive in the the church’s foundations and the church was built around her to contain her evil. As she lay in the ground suffocating with bloodthirsty onlookers standing over her, she cursed her leg to grow into a tree and destroy the church as revenge for her murder
Others variations on the folklore have the tree called 'The Witch’s Finger', growing from the site of her execution and pointing accusingly towards heaven, while another version says that the witch was taken to the abandoned church by villagers who felt it wise to dig her grave on consecrated ground.
The legend goes on to say that if anybody were to walk around the tree three times, the witch’s spirit would be released, however, it’s believed ghostly monks haunt the church and keep intruders from releasing the spirit.
This sheltered area of Norfolk’s coastline was once a hunting ground for witch-finders from the 1580's up to the days of Matthew Hopkin, 'The Witchfinder General', who's reign of terror lasted from March 1644 until his retirement in 1647. The persecution of so called witches, paid for by the people amounted to state-sanctioned murder. Whipped into a froth of fear and suspicion, the county was quick to condemn and just as fast to commit. If East Somerton’s villagers discovered what they believed to be witchcraft in their midst, they would not have thought before acting.
St. Mary's received Grade; II listed building status on 25th. September 1962. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 402081).