♫ Claire ♫
St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Spot the builder on the roof!
St Margaret's as it stands today was largely built in two stages. The oldest parts of the Church are the tower and crypt dating from the mid to late 14th Century.
The tower is constructed in the early decorated style (1300 - 1370), with the copper spire put up in the 1954 to replace the original lead-on-timber spire erected in 1483.
The spire is surmounted by a guilted weather-cock, once the highest point in Lowestoft(now surpassed only by the sails of Gulliver, the giant turbine). Being the highest point in the most easterly town in the British Isles, the weather-cock is one of the first things touched by the light of the sun each morning.
The belfry arch appears far too small when compared with the height of the nave. This is because the present nave replaces a somewhat earlier and shorter nave, although of the same length.
The tower houses a fine ring of eight bells cast by Taylor's of Loughborough in 1920.
St Margaret's, is a typical example of 'Best side forward'. The South side of the church is handsomely decorated with traditional flint flushwork, a prominent feature of many East Anglian Churches. The North side of the church, however is comparatively unadorned, perhaps through lack of funds during building.
A particularly richly decorated part of the church is the south porch. Above the doorway are three niches. The figures which originally occupied these niches were destroyed by Francis Jessope. The present figures, all modern, were installed in 1897. The central figure is Saint Margaret of Antioch, the church's patron. In the western niche of the porch is a figure of Saint Felix, the first Bishop of East Anglia (founding the see of Dunwich). In the Eastern niche s Bishop Losinga, who transferred the see to Norwich in 1091. He holds a model of the present Cathedral in his arms. Below the figure of Losinga is a "Wheel" sundial, carved into the stone work. Above the porch is a small room, known locally as the Maid's Chamber. It is so called after the two old ladies who reputedly lived up there for some years before the reformation.
Although the nave is mainly 15th century, the south wall is not. In 1871, the structure was considered to be unsafe, and so, the wall was patiently reconstructed, retaining the original buttresses. The stone work on this side of the church is especially fine. Of particular note are the gargoyles on the East and West of the porch, the string course, running around the top of the wall, and the carved detail on the buttresses (mainly shields and Tudor roses).
St Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Spot the builder on the roof!
St Margaret's as it stands today was largely built in two stages. The oldest parts of the Church are the tower and crypt dating from the mid to late 14th Century.
The tower is constructed in the early decorated style (1300 - 1370), with the copper spire put up in the 1954 to replace the original lead-on-timber spire erected in 1483.
The spire is surmounted by a guilted weather-cock, once the highest point in Lowestoft(now surpassed only by the sails of Gulliver, the giant turbine). Being the highest point in the most easterly town in the British Isles, the weather-cock is one of the first things touched by the light of the sun each morning.
The belfry arch appears far too small when compared with the height of the nave. This is because the present nave replaces a somewhat earlier and shorter nave, although of the same length.
The tower houses a fine ring of eight bells cast by Taylor's of Loughborough in 1920.
St Margaret's, is a typical example of 'Best side forward'. The South side of the church is handsomely decorated with traditional flint flushwork, a prominent feature of many East Anglian Churches. The North side of the church, however is comparatively unadorned, perhaps through lack of funds during building.
A particularly richly decorated part of the church is the south porch. Above the doorway are three niches. The figures which originally occupied these niches were destroyed by Francis Jessope. The present figures, all modern, were installed in 1897. The central figure is Saint Margaret of Antioch, the church's patron. In the western niche of the porch is a figure of Saint Felix, the first Bishop of East Anglia (founding the see of Dunwich). In the Eastern niche s Bishop Losinga, who transferred the see to Norwich in 1091. He holds a model of the present Cathedral in his arms. Below the figure of Losinga is a "Wheel" sundial, carved into the stone work. Above the porch is a small room, known locally as the Maid's Chamber. It is so called after the two old ladies who reputedly lived up there for some years before the reformation.
Although the nave is mainly 15th century, the south wall is not. In 1871, the structure was considered to be unsafe, and so, the wall was patiently reconstructed, retaining the original buttresses. The stone work on this side of the church is especially fine. Of particular note are the gargoyles on the East and West of the porch, the string course, running around the top of the wall, and the carved detail on the buttresses (mainly shields and Tudor roses).