St Margaret of Antioch's - Cley next the Sea
One of Norfolk’s finest churches. Huge for what is now a small village. Middle Ages Norfolk was very rich from its wool trade with mainland Europe and Cley was an important port. St Margaret’s reflects all this.
It was partially rebuilt starting in the 1320s by master mason William Ramsey whose family worked the Palace of Westminster and parts of Norwich Cathedral. The Perpendicular style nave was completed.
Then the Black Death of the late 1340s arrived. Possibly half of Cley's population succumbed including the rebuilding sponsor and his son. Trade was disrupted and the port impoverished. Further rebuilding, including that of the chancel and the old tower, was abandoned. St Margaret’s somehow brings home to us those days – especially poignant in current times.
More internal views: www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51954116011/in/photostream/
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51954680724/in/photostream/
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51972080194/in/dateposted/
Exterior:
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51971527645/in/dateposted/
Cley windmill
St Margaret of Antioch's - Cley next the Sea
One of Norfolk’s finest churches. Huge for what is now a small village. Middle Ages Norfolk was very rich from its wool trade with mainland Europe and Cley was an important port. St Margaret’s reflects all this.
It was partially rebuilt starting in the 1320s by master mason William Ramsey whose family worked the Palace of Westminster and parts of Norwich Cathedral. The Perpendicular style nave was completed.
Then the Black Death of the late 1340s arrived. Possibly half of Cley's population succumbed including the rebuilding sponsor and his son. Trade was disrupted and the port impoverished. Further rebuilding, including that of the chancel and the old tower, was abandoned. St Margaret’s somehow brings home to us those days – especially poignant in current times.
More internal views: www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51954116011/in/photostream/
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51954680724/in/photostream/
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51972080194/in/dateposted/
Exterior:
www.flickr.com/photos/lesc/51971527645/in/dateposted/
Cley windmill