What a Gem

M and I were out and about visiting timber merchants to investigate the price of garden sheds, both the sites we visited were out in the middle of nowhere, so our sat nav took us along lots of tiny roads between the two, one of the roads had grass growing along the middle!  I’m so glad we followed this route though, as we found this beautiful old thatched church, details below.  I didn’t get a chance to look inside so I think a re-visit is required, if I can find it again that is!
 
St Lawrence, just to the north of Aylsham,(in the village of Ingworth) has been through the mill a bit; apparently the tower collapsed in the early 19th century, and the stump was rebuilt as a vestry with a conical cap of thatch about a hundred years later, giving it a kind of Arts and Crafts feel.
 
Set on a mound in middle of the village, this is one of Norfolk's more unusual churches. The massive conglomerate blocks in the northwest and northeast corners of the nave, and the remains of the round west tower suggest the church dates from the mid 11th century. The chancel was re-modelled in the 13th century and the whole church renovated in the 15th century.
 
The other excellent feature is that the church is part of the Norfolk Wildlife Trusts ‘Churchyard Conservation Scheme’ where the area around the church is managed for wildlife, so the grass won’t be cut until the end of the summer, to encourage bees, butterflies, birds etc. to visit the churchyard.

PS: I only had my compact camera with me and couldn't get far enough back to fit all of it in the frame...but you can still see how beautiful it is.