Visit Crowfield, Suffolk Places

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The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Crowfield, Suffolk

  

Crowfield, Suffolk Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Crowfield, Suffolk

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Crowfield, Suffolk history

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15th century

It is known that there has been a place of worship on this site for 600 years. The building retains its Norman footprint of a nave and chancel, with the porch and bell turret added later. The south porch dates from the 15th century and is timber framed and a masterpiece of medieval carpentry.

16th century

At the Reformation its continued existence was in question. William Kene, yeoman, in 1549 bequeathed four pounds ‘to maintain God’s service, to be paid £1 a year’ It appears that the chapel did not continue, as in 1674 it was described as ‘much decayed and ruined’

17th century

The moat enclosed the first manor house of the manor of Crowfield-cum-Bocking. By 1673 the Lord of the Manor had relocated himself to Bocking Hall, which lies about half a mile south west of the church, and renamed Crowfield Hall. An archaeological excavation on the island in 2008 revealed ‘building foundations, together with 12th to 14th-century pottery with a few sherds of pottery’

18th century

Little is known about the history of All Saints at this time. The second Crowfield Hall was rebuilt in 1728 but less than one hundred years later in 1819 it too was demolished.

19th century

In 1862 an extensive restoration of the church took place at the behest of Lady Middleton, in memory of her husband Sir William Fowle Middleton who had died in 1860. What you see today is the result of that extensive restoration. Upon its completion the Ipswich Journal commented that ‘This is undoubtedly the most costly and choice piece of church restoration that has come to our notice for many years and the chapel is now a perfect model of chaste and elaborate design and finish.’ We are given a snapshot of the state of the church prior to the restoration from the notes of David Elisha Davy. When he visited in 1824, the state of the church in the early 19th century is described the notes of the ecclesiologist David Elisha Davy. Visiting in 1824, he recorded that both roofs were hidden by plaster ceilings; there were uniform box pews throughout; the pulpit was painted white, and the small font had a square bowl. The single bell hung not in the cupola but in the wooden porch, which was plastered over. Several of the chancel windows were blocked up. The architect for the restoration was Edmund Charles Hakewill, who had designed two churches in East London, before moving to Suffolk. The contractors appointed for the work at Crowfield were Mr Gibbons and Mr English; both local firms. The woodcarving inside the church was executed by Mr James Wormald and Mr William Polly. The nave was rebuilt in 1862 from the foundations up using the original plan, materials and style. The large three-light windows added at that time are supported inside by double trefoil arches springing from a central shaft. Two grotesques, one human head, one animal found elsewhere in the church were placed in the external western wall level with the gable ends. The south door gives access to an interior which is clean, polished and lovingly tended. Colour has been judiciously used in its beautification and the general atmosphere is one of homeliness. Most of the furnishings were made in 1862 but everything is very tasteful and no amount of care or expense has been spared on the quality of the craftsmanship. In the wall beside the south entrance is a renewed niche for the Holy Water stoop. By the time of Davy’s visit in 1824, the original bell turret had been replaced by a cupola with a domed top as can be seen in Isaac Johnson’s drawing of 1818. Hakewill replaced this with a new bell turret, crowned with a spirelet. This contains a bell made by Taylor and Sons of Loughborough in 1848. The 15th century chancel, which is of timber-framed construction, is unique in Suffolk churches and extremely rare in churches of eastern England. The windows are attractive examples of Perpendicular architecture. They have timber frames, mullions and tracery. However, the exact history of the chancel is unclear. One account of the 1862 restoration says that the plaster was removed from the chancel walls, revealing for the first time in many years, the lovely windows. Whereas the English Heritage Listed Buildings record from 1955 says, ‘The structure was entirely reassembled and many components renewed, in 1862’. The second of these descriptions seems likely as it is clear that when viewing the chancel from the outside, there is much newer timber mixed with the old. The north doorway of the nave leads to the vestry. It retains much of its original 15th-century stonework and hood mould although the corbel heads and part of the arch were renewed during the 1862 restoration. The nave is fitted with beautiful 19th-century benches. These have poppy-head ends on which an incredible variety of fruit and foliage has been carved. Each pew is different and if time allows, it is interesting to try to identify them all. The octagonal font dates from 1862 and has a simple undulating cusped motif around the bowl. The crowning glory of the nave is its magnificent late 15th-century single hammer-beam roof. The hammer-beams alternate with arch-braces and the wall plates are beautifully carved. The construction of this roof is unusual because the arch-braces are built in two stages. Another example of this kind of construction can be seen at Ufford. The restorers gave the roof its angels and standing figures. At the division between the nave and chancel are two very striking clusters of angels, carved in wood. These date from 1862, as do those at the ends of the stalls in the chancel. The chancel arch is 15th century and its responds have moulded capitals and bases. It still retains the places where the former rood screen or possibly rood-beam was attached. This screen, which was sadly destroyed centuries ago, was said to have been very fine. The interior of this remarkable chancel is as interesting and attractive as its exterior. The medieval timber frame is exposed internally and the lower parts of the walls are wainscoted. Its ancient roof has large tie-beams and rough arch-braces. On the south wall hangs a framed funerary hatchment of a member of the Middleton family. Hatchments were placed outside the house of the deceased for a time then taken for permanent display in the parish church. The communion rail dates from the 18th century and the present altar table came from the now redundant St. Andrews church, Mickfield, in 1985. On the east wall are fixed zinc plaques denoting the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and the Commandments. These are very finely painted and were the subject of some light restoration in 2004. The stained glass is by Hughes of London. The east windows were given in memory of Sir William Fowle Middleton by his widow. Other members of the family, who are buried in a vault beneath the altar, are commemorated by brass plaques on the chancel walls. Sir William also has a fine monument on the north wall, given by his tenants. In the chancel floor, under the mat, are two black ledger slabs. One commemorates Sir Henry Harwood of Crowfield Hall, who died in 1738. The other which has a Latin inscription, commemorates Sir Harbottle Wingfield, who died in 1645. There are two other slabs in the chancel floor. One on the north side commemorates William Springfield and the other, which is opposite, has its inscription hidden by the wooden floor.

20th century

Crowfield became a parish in its own right following a petition to King George V and formal separation in 1923. The simple single manual organ was built by Norman and Beard in 1913. The church was chosen as the main feature for the village sign which was commissioned in 2012.

21st Century

A large amount of Stone Street was cordoned off, and armoured vehicles, police dogs and armed police were brought to the street. A man is believed to be holed up in his home, possibly with a weapon.

You can visit Crowfield, Suffolk places with Walkfo Crowfield, Suffolk to hear history at Crowfield, Suffolk’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Crowfield, Suffolk has 12 places to visit in our interactive Crowfield, Suffolk map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Crowfield, Suffolk, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Crowfield, Suffolk places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Crowfield, Suffolk & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 12 audio facts unique to Crowfield, Suffolk places in an interactive Crowfield, Suffolk map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Crowfield, Suffolk Places Map
12 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Crowfield, Suffolk historic spots	Crowfield, Suffolk tourist destinations	Crowfield, Suffolk plaques	Crowfield, Suffolk geographic features
Walkfo Crowfield, Suffolk tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Crowfield, Suffolk

  

Best Crowfield, Suffolk places to visit

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Crowfield, Suffolk has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Crowfield, Suffolk’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Crowfield, Suffolk’s information audio spots:

Crowfield Windmill Crowfield Windmill is a smock mill at Crowfield, Suffolk, England which has been conserved. The mill was built in the 1930s and is now owned by a family.

Visit Crowfield, Suffolk plaques