ALL SAINTS CHURCH,
ASHWICKEN.
ALL SAINTS CHURCH,
ASHWICKEN.
This village to the east of King's Lynn is situated on a belt of carstone country stretching from Hunstanton to Downham Market. High quality sand from Ashwicken has been extracted for making glass.
THE TOWER is early l4th century and the local carstone predominates in its middle stage below the string course. It was built without buttresses and then in the l7th century large stepped brick buttresses were added to it on the diagonals. By uslng some darker coloured bricks a pattern was given to the brickwork. The pyramid roof in place of battlements is a particular feature of this tower.
THE SOUTH PORCH has all the features of a medieval porch of the l5th century with small double light windows on each side under, I nice square topped labels. Originally it was the place for secular parish meetings and for weddings. The vacant niche above the entrance tells us of the abolition of images in 1538.
THE NORTH DOORWAY has a curious brick arch and very early brickwork. It has been blocked up for a very long time, but one wonders if there was once a porch here.
VICTORIAN RESTORATION followed a long period of neglect and here the restoration was very thorough. Hugh Bryant wrote about 1906 that the church was once much targer, but this is not substantiated. The drawing by J.R.ladbrooke early in the l9th century shows it the same size as it is today.
THE CHANCEL WALLS were refaced on the outside using many stones derived from former window frames and other parts. On the inside the walls were given decorative arcading on both sides. The East window was reconstructed in 1878 and the chancel south windows were added in 1906 and 1908.
nice square topped tabels. Originally it was the place for secular parish meetings and for weddings. The vacant niche (Fig.1) above the entrance telts us of the abolition of images in 1538.
THE N DOORWAY (Fig,2) has a curious brick arch and very early brickwork. !t has been blocked up for a very long time, but one wonders if there was once a porch here.
VICTORIAN RESTORATION followed a long period of neglect, and here the restoration wras very thorough. Hugh Bryant wrote about i906 that the church was once much targer, but this is not substantiated. The drawing.by J.R.Ladbrooke early in the l9th century shows it the same slze as it is today.
THE CHANCEL WALLS were refaced on the outside using many stones derived from former window frames and other parts, On the inside the walls were given decorative arcading on both P> sides. The E window was reconstructed in 1878 and the chancel S wrndows were added in 1906 and 1908.
THE BELL Is inscribed "Thomas Newman made mee 17i0" and survives from a rlng of four. The tower lacks a proper tower arch. This ts most unusual and was probably altered to make a targe opening into the nave when more space was needed, possibly when the church was united wtth Leziate tn 1568. The North doorway was repaired and bfocked up w'tth interesting earty brickwork which might have been done at the same time.
THE FONT was made by Maj. Markham Kittoe at Benares. His wife was daughter of the Rector and he gave it in memory of his 12 year old daughter called Jesste-Anne who died in 1850. It has ultra elaborate decoration cast in a mould, following medieval designs of quatrefoils, arches, crocketing and flowing tracery with multiple shafting.
THE PIPE ORGAN (1904) made by Norman & Beard