Tivetshall St. Margaret: Architecture and Local History

Among the defining places in Tivetshall St. Margaret are the Church of St Margaret, historic residential and meeting buildings, and a war memorial. If you are considering the village as a destination for a stay, its architecture and local history offer some points of interest to explore.

Church of St Margaret: Medieval Furnishings

The chancel dates from around 1300 and contains a Holy Sepulchre. The rood screen dates from the late 15th century. Its tympanum bears royal coats of arms of Elizabeth I painted on panels. The chancel and rood screen thus bring together two distinct periods in the church’s furnishings. The difference in date makes it possible to trace the development of the church’s furnishings.

The Church of St Margaret lies away from the village. Fields and scattered farm buildings surround it. This setting is just as useful for orientation as the architectural details inside.

Timber Framing, Brick and Roof Shapes

Walk Farmhouse (Aylmer’s Hall) is a plastered timber-framed house dating from the 16th or 17th century. It has a steep tiled roof and gabled ends. Plaster describes the exterior finish, while timber framing describes the construction method; both help identify the building more precisely.

The Friends' Meeting House dates from the early 19th century. It is built of red brick and has a hipped roof covered with black glazed tiles. It is a Grade II listed building. A hipped roof also has sloping sides at the ends. This can be contrasted with the gabled ends of Walk Farmhouse: the two buildings differ in both their construction and their roof shapes.

The War Memorial

The Tivetshall St Margaret War Memorial was erected around 1920 as a memorial to the First World War. It commemorates ten local members of the armed forces who died in the First World War. The memorial is also a Grade II listed building. Here, remembrance of people is at the heart of the site, while the Church of St Margaret offers a different perspective on local history through its furnishings, and the two historic buildings through their architectural forms.

Plan Your Visit

Wheelchair access to the Church of St Margaret is available by prior request. If you need this access, enquire before your visit. The church also holds a flower festival every two years. If you wish to time your stay to coincide with the festival, check the specific date in advance.

The buildings offer different points of interest for a stay: medieval church furnishings, timber framing and brick, different roof shapes, and a memorial dating from around 1920. These specific architectural and historical themes provide a way to understand Tivetshall St. Margaret.

Discover more destinations: Hindringham, Runcton Holme, Northrepps, Narborough, Castle Acre, Overstrand, Briston, Attleborough.

For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.