World Image Issue 48 September 2017

The old one, the subject of this presentation, is located in the
centre of the village, was partially demolished in 1775,
because it was obstructing the view from Sir Lionel Lyde's
new home. So much for the gentries respect of religion and
architecture.
But in rural areas this was the normal behaviour of the gentry.
They owned the land and everyone on it. Laugh at a ‘ladies’
hat and you were flogged, pick up a stick from the side of the
road, or fruit from a roadside bush, and you were charged
with theft. The gentry owned the land so if you transgressed
as an agricultural worker, which most of the population were
(and in tied houses), you were out of a job and home.
So when Sir Lionel decided to construct a new home, rather
than position it differently, he did so in such a way that the
church had to go. It is interesting to note that only part of the
church was removed, the most obvious obstruction, the tower,
still remains.
The Norman nature of the church is still evident in the arches
and layout of the remains, although the tower has become
dangerous and unstable with time.
The fact that the structure was never fully demolished
suggests that his lordships objection was not the obstruction
of the view from his home, but that he did not want the
parishioners walking past in such proximity every Sunday
morning.
I suspect that Sir Lionel may also have had a falling out with
the then incumbent of the church, or perhaps the church itself.
Either way the partial demolition has left us with a good
location for photography that should endure for a while longer
at least. GLL
Website = photosociety.net Page 51 email = magazine@photosociety.net