Lessingham: Churches and Coastal History

Lessingham brings together church architecture and coastal history with a named bridleway route. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help shape your focus: historic buildings, changes along the coast or a specific route description.

Churches and historic buildings

All Saints Church in Lessingham is a Grade II* listed building. A notable architectural detail is its Purbeck marble font, which dates from the 13th century. These are two separate historical details: the listing status refers to the building, while the date applies to the font. The church can therefore be understood both through its designation and through a specific piece of its furnishings.

St Andrew Church in Hempstead lies within the civil parish of Lessingham and is also a Grade II* listed building. It was built before the end of the 14th century. Unlike All Saints, the focus here is on the church’s construction date; at All Saints, a particular piece of furnishing is dated to the 13th century. These offer two different historical points of reference for exploring the parish churches.

Another building adds to this picture: the barn stands 35 metres south of Beach Farmhouse and dates from the early 18th century. It is timber-framed, with brick gable walls and a thatched roof. Its construction, gable material and roof covering are all specifically described. Its date also highlights the contrast with the medieval details given for the churches.

A Benedictine grange in Lessingham is also part of the area’s history. It was founded around 1090 and dissolved before 1230. This adds the history of a medieval institution to that of the churches and their construction dates. For your choice of historical themes, it offers a broader view of Lessingham’s past, not limited to church buildings.

Eccles and coastal history

Eccles-next-the-Sea in Lessingham was severely flooded by the sea in the early 17th century. Another notable date is 1895, when the tower of St Mary’s Church in Eccles collapsed during a severe storm. Fragments of the church’s masonry are often exposed on the beach after storms. These details link an early flood, a storm-related damage event with a specific date, and recurring discoveries after storms. If you are interested in changes along the coast, Eccles has a history spanning several centuries.

Bridleway and getting there

Bridleway No. 8, also known as Seaside Lane, starts on Hempstead Road, west of the rectory. This 12-foot-wide green lane runs northeast to the beach at the parish boundary. Its name, starting point, direction, width and endpoint make its route specific. For orientation, the link between the start and endpoint is particularly useful: the route leads from the stated section of Hempstead Road to the beach at the parish boundary.

The nearest railway station to Lessingham is at Worstead, on the Bittern Line between Sheringham and Norwich. If you are planning to travel by train, this gives you a specific station and the line it serves to help with further planning.

Wildlife watching at Grange Farm

Grange Farm’s nature reserve offers several places for wildlife watching: in the woodland, by a pond and overlooking a meadow with wild-bird seed. These settings offer different kinds of viewing, from woodland and water to open views across the meadow. The reserve was created for visitors to the caravan park; check the visiting arrangements before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Harleston, Bradenham, Syderstone, Grimston, North Walsham, Hockwold Cum Wilton, Potter Heigham, Great Snoring.

For the regional travel overview: Norfolk.