An Art Exhibition and a Very Pretty Church

M, B and I went along to the pretty village of Hempstead this morning.
Hempstead is a small parish in the North Norfolk district. It lies just east of Holt. In the Domesday Book it is recorded as being an outlier of the large manor of Holt. Confusingly there are two Hempsteads in Norfolk. The other Hempstead is close to North Walsham further to the east. Normally the name is translated as meaning ‘the homestead’, however there is documentary evidence to suggest that Hempstead near Holt derives from Old English and means ‘place where hemp is grown’.
 
The annual art exhibition was being held in the village hall, and the couple we know well from our Toadwatch volunteering were involved in the organisation of the event. It was an excellent exhibition, with a surprising volume and variety of art on display.  They were running a ‘lucky dip’ where artists had made free contributions of a piece of art each.  The idea being that you pay £5 and pick a number which corresponds to a sealed package which contains an artwork.  Good fun (as you have no idea what you will get) and great value as the pieces of art are over and above the value of the £5 paid.  Our pick was a pretty stained-glass flower, which now graces our conservatory.
 
We parked next to All Saints Church, which is a most attractive church, with a thatched apse (added in 1925), something I have never seen before.  This Late Saxon or Saxo-Norman church with a west tower was mostly demolished and rebuilt around 1300. The Saxon tower, one Norman doorway and one 13th century doorway from the old church were rebuilt into the new 14th century structure. The chancel was rebuilt in 1475 and the south porch was added in the 16th century. The nave windows were replaced in the 17th century and west half of the tower was rebuilt in brick in 1744.  (see extra for front view).  I think another visit will be needed to have a look inside.
 
All in all, a most pleasant way to spend a Sunday morning.