English Heritage sites near Thompson Parish
GRIME'S GRAVES - PREHISTORIC FLINT MINE
9 miles from Thompson Parish
Grime’s Graves is a unique visitor attraction in Norfolk as the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain.
THETFORD PRIORY
10 miles from Thompson Parish
The extensive remains of one of the most important East Anglian monasteries, the Cluniac Priory of Our Lady of Thetford and the burial place of the earls and dukes of Norfolk for 400 years.
THETFORD, CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
10 miles from Thompson Parish
The only surviving remains in England of a priory of Canons of the Holy Sepulchre, who aided pilgrims to Christ's tomb: the ruined nave of their 14th-century church, later used as a barn.
THETFORD WARREN LODGE
10 miles from Thompson Parish
Thetford Warren Lodge was probably built c.1400 by the Prior of Thetford; this defensible lodge protected gamekeepers and hunting parties against armed poachers.
WEETING CASTLE
11 miles from Thompson Parish
The ruins of a substantial early medieval moated manor house, built in local flint.
CASTLE ACRE CASTLE AND BAILEY GATE
13 miles from Thompson Parish
The delightful village of Castle Acre boasts an extraordinary wealth of history and is a very rare and complete survival of a Norman planned settlement.
Churches in Thompson Parish
Thompson: St Martin
A Church Untouched
Our lovely village church, St Martin's, is a typical Norfolk perpendicular style building that dates from 1349, as does College Farm (http://collegefarmnorfolk.co.uk/) close by, once housing the five priests of this collegiate church. The church was founded by local magnate Sir John Shardlowe, probably in the hope of winning some divine protection from the Black Death. Even in Tudor times Thompson was off the beaten track and although many of it's neighbours were 'improved' over the years St Martin's was left untouched, and, like the village, all the better for it. There is a complete set of poppy head pews dated 1632 & 1625, the box pew of Futter family c.1630, a panelled & painted chancel screen c.1330 and a building of national importance for interior woodwork to name but a few of the treasures at St Martin's.
We welcome visitors to St Martin's and to the services held there. Our weekly united service rotates between the six local churches. Information can be obtained from either of our two ChurchWardens. Katharine Wolstenholme 01953 483318 or Jo Connolly 01953 488099 or by looking on our website http://www.stmartinsthompson.co.uk/ where you'll find more information & news about St Martin's.
Pubs in Thompson Parish
Chequers Inn
Griston Road, Thompson, IP24 1PX
(01953) 483360
thompsonchequers.co.uk