Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 4

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chapter 4

After a freezing night in early March 2006, the morning began sunny enough, so at 10.30am I set off to visit five churches to the south of the Worlingworth area in a region enclosed by the B1120 to the north, the B1077 to the west, the B1078 to the south, and a line due south of Worlingworth to the east.

First stop was Framsden – a sleepy hamlet with a fairly large church. The interesting lych-gate into the Churchyard promised much, but unfortunately the Church was locked (key-holders listed).

On next to Helmingham, a majestic church attached to the Estate. It has many fine 17^th century memorials inside, and also boasts a vaulted room below (not open). Definitely a church to visit.

Nice picture too!

Through the countryside to Otley, where the church nestles hidden away at the end of a pretty driveway.

Another glorious Suffolk tower – the Cortina looks so small in comparison – so I took a second picture at this location.

The porch is on an equally grand scale – so much so that they have turned part of it into a toilet!

Another unusual but welcoming feature is the disabled access ramp just inside the South Porch entrance.

Striking north-east now to begin the return, the trip continued along virtually vehicle-free country roads to Cretingham.

This was the second church to be found locked, but again key-holders information was given for those who wanted to see inside.

As I had visited this church on a previous occasion – a Gardens and Classic Cars Show  in 2005 – I was happy to take the photo and move on.

Continuing through lovely countryside I tracked north to reach Earl Soham, the last stop of this particular journey.

Here I met my first and only other person from the whole trip. He turned out to be the key-holder, and he was opening all the doors to let the church get an airing.

The main feature of interest to me was the magnificent 17^th century pew-end carvings. All sorts of people, demons and animals are represented, and it is interesting to speculate whether the heads were all carved by one person: clearly the pew-ends themselves are the work of several carpenters, as you would expect – close inspection showing not only subtle variations in the intricate design, but also varying levels of skill.

I assume the heads are dowelled onto the top of the pew-ends rather than each end being completed from a single piece of solid wood.

I was back home before 1.00pm after a trip of three churches open out of five – about par.

The journey was remarkable for the distinct lack of traffic throughout, and with the Cortina’s heater going full-blast the views made this a very enjoyable trip on a sunny Friday morning.

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Route Details

Worlingworth to Ashfield-Cum-Thorpe, via Bedfield.

West along the B1120, then left onto the B1077.

Immediately the B1077 bears right but I went straight ahead onto a road marked “unsuitable for HGVs”.

Right at the T junction into Framsden – along here the church is on the left. Park in the road as the lane to the church is single track and difficult to turn in.

Continue along until meeting the B1077 again. Turn left and keep on where the B1079 branches off to the left. Helmingham church is immediately on the right – easy off-road parking.

Return to the nearby B1079 turn-off, and take this road this time – to Ottley.

The church is towards the end of the built-up area on the right – nice driveway entrance to park beside the church.

Turn left out of the churchyard and take the immediate right-turn down a country lane towards Clopton Green.

At the T junction turn left, marked Cretingham.

After a little over a mile take a left-turn signposted Cretingham, and then right at the T junction.

This brings you into Cretingham. Continue through the village and the church appears on the left as you descend the hill – easy parking.

Continue down the hill and turn right at the T junction. At the next T junction after a mile, turn left again – this brings you into Earl Soham.

At the village green triangle keep to the right and make a right-turn onto the main road (B1120). Go through the village and the church appears on the right. Park by taking the grass centred track (see photo) directly towards the tower, or park at the bottom.

On leaving the church turn right onto the B1120 again and shortly take the left turn towards Bedfield when the main road bends sharply to the right.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

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Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 3

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chapter 3

The third journey began on a dull morning in late November – Tuesday the 29th – but the forecast was for improving weather so I headed out south-west beyond the A1120 to find our first church at Gosbeck – and what an interesting church it turned out to be.

The tower, instead of forming the west end of the church, is where the south porch would be expected, so the entrance through the tower – often no longer in use in many other churches today – serves both purposes simultaneously.

On to Ashbocking, which did not look too promising from the map, being well off the road and set far into the estate lands of the owners of the great Hall. I succeeded in stampeding the horses running loose in a field – well they probably were excited about seeing a Mk 1! – but no-one came to warn me off so I found the Church alright, and I was delighted to find it was open.

This ancient building was first built for the Ash and then the Bocking dynasties, and for me its most interesting feature is a 14^th century recess in the south wall which must relate to the Hall families, although there is no inscription. It is quite beautiful and puzzling at the same time, with a gorgeous window in its centre. I have never seen anything like it.

Another interesting feature is the re-instatement of a Norman font, thrown away some hundreds of years ago and replaced, and then rediscovered by chance during some excavations in the first part of the 1800s, by which time its antiquity was appreciated, so they threw out the one they had then!

This latter font was described very scathingly in 1814 as being awful, so all has turned out for the best!

Next came Pettaugh church, attractively set behind trees on a slight incline.

However, it was shut, and the book didn’t have much to say about its features, so I made do with a rather nice picture in the sunshine.

Disappointment continued as the next Church was also closed, although I had expected it this time. Winston is a tiny hamlet to the south of Debenham and once again the Church appeared to have been built for, or at least maintained by, the owners of the Hall. Not much in the book again, although it is a pretty setting, but the Tudor brick-built south porch is attractive, and evocative of distant times.

Finally on to Debenham itself – by far the largest Church today.

Open although deserted, it was thoroughly explored and made for an interesting 30 minutes visit.

I ran the Cortina up the pathway that the hearses take and managed a decent photograph before hastily backing out again!

Back home again for a late lunch to complete this third tour of 2005 – the final one for this first year, and hopefully many more to come exploring lovely Suffolk.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

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Making a PitStop at Makro on Sunday

I’m guessing he wasn’t out picking her his full ‘bulk’ shop for the week but here we have this brilliant track day Caterham parked up outside Makro in Ipswich on Sunday morning.

A new arrival to the Bridge family

Congratulations to Bridge owner Craig and his partner Lyndsay on the safe arrival of Loick Ashley on the 23rd April. Weighing in at 7lbs 4.5 oz.

Here at Bridge we like always look forward and obviously what every boy needs is a smart set of wheels.

Welcome to the family Loick, your chariot awaits

1972 Triumph Stag in for a MOT

It’s lovely to see all of the local classics out and about when the sun is shining. In today, we’ve had a lovely little Triumph Stag in for a MOT.

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 2

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Chapter 2

The second tour began on a sunny August morning. It was to be a journey of only modest ambition, taking in four very local churches.

It was disappointing to find the first church locked (Bedfield) but it will be revisited later. It is in the Benefice so we have sung there before on several occasions.

Monk Soham church was open. It is also in the Benefice and had been visited before.

It is very secretively hidden away behind churchyard trees (see below), but a long-range view can be obtained from the south aspect (see second picture). Travellers on foot are offered a most attractive and unusual footpath approach from this position.

Kenton church is approached impressively from a due west compass position, and the tower looked magnificent in the morning sunlight. I was very pleased with this photograph.

Sadly I encountered another locked church at Bedingfield – maybe it was too early in the day – but it will be revisited. The trees covered the site so well that this is the only picture I could achieve that included the building and the car, and some imagination is required! The Cortina looks nice anyway!

Bedingfield church was revisited on November 14th 2005 and this time it was open. It is an interesting ancient building with many references to the generations of the Bedingfield family line who gave the village its name.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

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Coming In Soon

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Arriving soon to our Ipswich workshops, our beautiful 1982 Austin Mini Clubman in concours condition.

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