Hampstead Norris or Norreys

This was almost a false trail. My wife's family history pointed once more towards this lovely small village close to Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn. It is situated in West Berkshire. There were Mills here as agricultural labourers, Pococks, Lovelocks. However I found none in the graveyard and none on the memorial. These are the other two churchyards I visited Little Bedwyn and Great Bedwyn.  Even my SatNav "lost" the road to Little Bedwyn.

From the South entrance

Looking towards the Alter

Closer still

The Tower

I had trouble managing the lighting. I knew this was interesting
There was no info beneath it and no one to ask! Sorry about the quality - an excuse to go back. This is quite large and can be seen in another of the pictures just to the left of the south door.

Plaster. A really elegant bas-relief of a knight with a lance.

I did photograph the inside of the church and and a couple of interesting objects there. The church can trace its roots back to Norman times. It certainly has that low squat appearance that these churches can have. There seems to be little information on the web at all. Quite odd really. It was really quiet in the church but I just felt the need to hurry.

My intention was to photograph the memorial and transcribe the names. There was a framed roll of honour oddly titled "European War, 1914 - 1918" The 8 has been changed. This is shown below:

20 Names in all- the same names as the stone memorial below.

The fallen from the Second World War are added below in the bottom panel.

The inscription and the names are recorded below:

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

+TO THE HONOUR OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND IN MEMORY OF 

MEN OF HAMPSTEAD NORRIS. WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED

HERE. THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE

GREAT WAR. 1914  - 1919 PASSING FROM THE WARFARE OF 

THE WORLD INTO THE PEACE OF GOD.+

ALBERT ADAMS.      JOHN MORTON.

ALFRED ALLEN.      PERCY MORTON.

CHARLES ALLEN.      DENIS MAY.

ERNEST BARLOW.      THOMAS NEWTON. 

ARTHUR GILES.      PERCIVAL NYE.

GEORGE GREENOUGH.      CHARLES PIKE.

GEORGE HOLMES.      GEORGE STEVENS.

STEPHEN JEFFREY.      ERNEST WELCH.

GEORGE LAWRENCE.      ARTHUR WHEELER.

DANIEL LAWRENCE.      ERNEST WYLD.

ALSOTHE FOLLOWING WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. 1939 - 1945

SAMUEL ARTHUR BARRETT.      LESLIE FRANCIS BLAKE.

ROBERT NORMAN MEDWAY.      ROBERT PHILIP NEATE.

EDWARD NEAL

CHARLES WILLIAM KITCHENER WHITE

This memorial is also recorded on the UK Inventory of War Memorials as

HAMPSTEAD NORREYS

UKNIWM Ref: 9075

St Bridget's at Brean

On our way to Cornwall we stopped at Brean. We found a huge camping site called Northam Farm - Pretty good too. Gave me a chance for a run with the camera. The light was going. However quite pleased with the results. The sepia image is a scan from a postcard that I found on eBay for 99p. Little bit of Gimp work there but it is a real photo - not a print. It shows quite a few changes especially on the tower. Difficult to judge the year - but I suspect between the wars. I don't think the War Memorial has been erected then, so maybe even before WW1. This makes it quite an old post card.

St Bridgets at Brean - Allegedly 6th Century, founded by Irish Monks.

However back to the present day. I took a series of photos within the church grounds.

There has been some brickwork altered on this end of the church between the time of the sepia photo and this one. I don't know if this church has a peal of bells

This is the War Memorial. It is end on to the road, strangely it is on the "wrong" side of the main path - there is no inscription on the back it is just rough hewn stone. However the man looks towards the sea which is quite fitting for a sea side town. The list of the fallen is at the end of this page

From the Road - the large grey object is the memorial. The door that you can see is the main door to the church. Entrance to the south. Its a shame the church wasn't open Will have quite an interesting layout inside.

Towards the back of the church

190636 GUNNER
L. EVANS
ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
13TH FEBRUARY 1919

Lot Evans, He is also on the memorial. The stone looks absolutely pristine. The turf actually looks like it has been dug recently. A mystery perhaps? Is it usual for a separate grave for those who died at home - found this site This is like an official regiment stone
Not one that I thought Lot's family would put up.

The north side of the church. Big strong buttresses and what looks like a chimney!

The North side again - Long shadows from the sun!

View from the rear of the church - The south side.
The main road is just beyond the church

The Lych-gate well cared for and with a new set of doors.
The war memorial is just to the left

John Ginchens
Church Warden
Anno Domini 1729

According to the guide book the church was struck by lightning in 1729. The tower is now much shortened and had a saddle back roof. Partly demolished. I can't find any information about John Ginchens.Makes you wonder if there is a link between John Ginchens and the lightning

St Bridget's, Brean

The inscription:

IN MEMORY OF THOSE MEN
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

1914 - 1918

CHAMPION IVOR E

DIBBLE GEORGE

EVANS LOT

GIBLETT SIDNEY

PHILLIPS METFORD

STARBUCK RICHARD

WEBB WILLIAM

MEN FROM BREAN

ERECTED BY THE PARISHONERS

A great little place, worthy of a second visit, more research. There are other monuments in the area which really did need photographing and researching.

More information here at the Brean Parish Council site.