Looking from a height gives perspective. St Helen's Church, Ranworth lives up to its reputation as the Cathedral of Broadland. Sponsored by rich wool merchants it was completed in the late 15th century. The charming building like many ecclesiastical places in the county has been largely untouched since the time of Cromwell aka the Lord Protector's troops marched through and dispoiled what they perceived as wicked Catholic idolatry ~ things go in circles as we can see in the present day.
Joanne and Eddie moored up peacefully at the nearby Parish Staithe; descending the spiral stone stairs and metal ladders to the top of the tower. The panoramic views of the stark wintry Bure valley are astounding, with bare skeletal trees like models placed round about. Some of the legends surrounding the church are no less tantalising. One peculiar pantomime story unfolded earlier this year, only a stone's throw away at the Old House ~ 'Lady Pea', a colourful sex therapist was embroiled in a dispute over her tenacy of the beautifully maintained property and her menagerie of animals. Strangely, a neighbouring Tudor mansion was mysteriously pulled down overnight around 40 summers ago.
Andrew, Chris
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