Suffolk, Bruisyard
Church of St Peter which may have been once dedicated to St Mary the patron saint of Bruisyard Abbey. The saxon tower, inexplicably tapered and with massive walls may have also been a defensive structure to cover the ford in the river below. The belfry openings are 14c and house one millennium bell - there were once 3 mediaeval bells, 2 being sold in 1814 to provide funds to restore the church, the last sold to Lawshall church in 1980 for £550 as the belfry at that time was unsafe.
The 12c nave was heightened in the 15c. The porch is 16c. A South chapel was added, built with stones from Bruisyard nunnery by Sir Nicholas Hare who bought the Abbey after its dissolution - His son Michael Hare d1611 has a brass there www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/14140585781/
Under Elizabeth I the refusal of the Hare family to convert from Catholicism cost them dearly. After Michael's death Bruisyard was given to his sister Anne Rouse in whose family the house has remained. Anne's son Thomas Rous is at Dennington www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/9458419021/
Suffolk, Bruisyard
Church of St Peter which may have been once dedicated to St Mary the patron saint of Bruisyard Abbey. The saxon tower, inexplicably tapered and with massive walls may have also been a defensive structure to cover the ford in the river below. The belfry openings are 14c and house one millennium bell - there were once 3 mediaeval bells, 2 being sold in 1814 to provide funds to restore the church, the last sold to Lawshall church in 1980 for £550 as the belfry at that time was unsafe.
The 12c nave was heightened in the 15c. The porch is 16c. A South chapel was added, built with stones from Bruisyard nunnery by Sir Nicholas Hare who bought the Abbey after its dissolution - His son Michael Hare d1611 has a brass there www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/14140585781/
Under Elizabeth I the refusal of the Hare family to convert from Catholicism cost them dearly. After Michael's death Bruisyard was given to his sister Anne Rouse in whose family the house has remained. Anne's son Thomas Rous is at Dennington www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/9458419021/