The county of Norfolk is renowned for its picturesque views, rolling acres of countryside and off the beaten path wonders. Perhaps the most impressive of all the county’s offerings are its medieval churches. Throughout the Middle Ages, Norfolk enjoyed prosperity from blossoming wool and agriculture industries, and its affluence during this period is reflected in the amount of churches built at the time. Norfolk has the greatest concentration of medieval churches in the world, and more than the rest of the United Kingdom combined. Over 650 churches from the period are still standing, dominating the landscape with spires and round towers.

Architectural and Artistic Wonders

There are many unique features of medieval architecture that make its appeal so timeless and awe inspiring. Thick stone was used prominently during the period, and many of the remaining churches in Norfolk are thick walled from cut stone and adorned with grand, imposing archways. Stone towers, too, were often built on churches during medieval times, and around 30 towers are still standing in Norfolk today.

Impressively, a great amount of artwork from the period still remains in good condition. Vivid paintings with bold reds and greens are representative of a great deal of medieval art, and many walls and panels are still adorned with these artworks, centuries later. Although some artwork has been whitewashed and painted over during renovations over the centuries, many of it was later restored to its original state. Carvings, too, were typical during this period, and some of Norfolk’s medieval churches still have intricately carved wooden bench ends, panelling and rafters. The carvings were usually inspired by evangelists and Old Testament prophets.

As Norfolk enjoyed its prosperity and wealth in the later medieval period, skilled glaziers and artisans found plenty of work adorning the county’s churches with intricate and striking stained glass windows. Amazingly, some medieval churches still have intact windows depicting beautiful scenes of angels, saints and other religious iconography.

Overgrown and Crumbling Ruins

Although many of Norfolk’s churches have had extensive restoration and repairs, a handful have been ravaged by time and neglect. Some churches are located in the ‘lost villages’ of Norfolk; places where settlements, hamlets and communities once stood. Some villages fell into the sea, others were abandoned during the plague and times of war. The well-built, stone medieval churches are all that remain in some of these lost villages.

St John’s, in Waxham, fares in much better condition than most. Its features have been weathered over the years, but the interior and exterior are still in good condition.

Other places, like St Felix, in Babingley, are much worse. St Felix is overgrown by ivy and marsh. Its tower, although now a shell of its former self, still stands, and some arches and large parts of the church are in strong condition. However, the site is mostly an eerie wonderment, alone in the countryside.

St Andrew’s, at Bircham Tofts, is in a similar state. From afar, the church appears to be a silhouette of overgrown bramble and dense thicket against the Norfolk sky. Although the external stonework simply cannot be seen, the interior of the church is accessible, but the masonry is in a similar state of neglect.

Other church sites are in much more drastic states of disrepair and abandonment. At All Saints, in Beachamwell, a handful of ruined stumps from the stone tower are all that remain of the medieval church.

St Andrew’s, in Rockland All Saints, is now just three jagged shards of a stone wall. In most of these places, few buildings are nearby and there are no signs marking them as sites of medieval churches. Visitors and passers-by would be forgiven for not realising that they are so close to historical ruins.

Eccentric Tales and Stories

Many of Norfolk’s medieval churches have interesting stories and backgrounds. St Michael the Archangel, in Booton, was built over an existing medieval church. It was designed by an eccentric clergyman, Whitwell Elwin. Elwin, who claimed to be a descendant of Pocahontos, scoured the country looking for inspiration to how he should redesign the church. On these travels, he was often accompanied by female acquaintances he called his ‘Blessed Girls’, and it is said the angels carved in the roof are in their likeness.

A recent discovery at St Clement’s Church in Outwell has puzzled historians. This year, 12 demons were found carved in the roof of the nave. The demons are on the shoulders of each of the 12 apostles, seeming to overcome the apostles when, traditionally, it is the other way round. Even more bizarrely, the carvings are positioned in such a way that it is almost impossible to see them clearly when looking up from the floor of the church. Although they have weathered over the years, the carvings have drawn great interest from historians, who are keen to preserve them and study their meaning.

St Edmund’s church has similar eerie carvings. Renowned for its intact medieval stone font, the church also has many beautifully preserved stone and wood carvings, still legible after 600 years. Perhaps the most interesting of all these carvings, however, is one thought to have made by a local priest during the outbreak of the black plague in the late 14th century. Almost half of the population of Norfolk died from the plague, and historians think that the latin inscription, asking for prayers for departed ‘brothers and sisters’, was tragically written by the priest himself. It is believed that the priest, stricken with grief following the many prayers he had held for those who had died, carved the plea in between masses.

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Written on behalf of the Norfolk Holiday Experts – pottersholidays.com

Many novels authored have been viewed by readers to give a clear picture of the real situation based on the characters involved and the vivid descriptions given. However, some of the films have been adapted from the novels. A perfect example is Stardust, a movie that gives a clear reminder of what we have been missing. The movie is well-articulated, contrary to the popular belief films adapted from novels fall below the original novels. This is a view which film producers have stepped up to task and have outdone their publishing counterparts. Stardust is a movie by Charles Vess, based on a novel by Neil Gaiman.

The book, which has been considered to be adult-rated is about a sad romantic affair laced with stunning artwork that is both imaginative and forbidding. Anyone who has read the book will agree with me that Gaiman has authored an astounding piece of work. The book which was originally published in 1997 is a novel rich in artwork blended with a traditional comedy approach. It was later edited in 2000. The book is an amazing piece with Gaiman injecting a lot of creativity in the way he brings out the traits of different characters with absolute ease.

Taking a closer look the analysis of the movie will reveal to you that the movie stars have done their research with an absolute masterpiece and creativity. If you doubt this, then your eyes must be lying. Perhaps that is an optical illusion yet to be unearthed. The aspects in the movie stand out, and action in it reveals the character in a very succinct manner. The suspense created is more unfathomable than the theory you have read. That combined with the magnificent environment, the pleasant scenery and the undulating features, make the movie more breathtaking. The brief mention of the flying merchant ship has been adapted to much better lightening pirates an element that makes the story come out more alive.

The omission of the flying merchant ship in the book left a void that cannot be filled by the reader. This is perfectly brought out in the film with tremendous actions and artwork. The pirates bring out a thought-provoking yet entertaining, hilarious and legendary piece of work. The mercurial back-up performances from the fascinating artists make the film more alluring. Tristan is the star actor, a role he has played with absolute perfection. The other outstanding character, in my opinion, is Captain Shakespeare. The story is not distracted nor the nature of the main characters ruined through the added scenes with the pirates as is normally the case when a film director wants to add more content. The different parts of the book are well selected.

This is seen the way the best parts have been picked and re-birthed into a true story. The worst parts have been overlooked since they do not add much value in the film. The fact that Neil Gaiman is a producer adds a lot of value to the movie as this gives him the much needed expertise to bring out the best movie from a novel – which is a very challenging task. This benefited him in making decisions on which part is critical and which part is not. My advice to you is that even if you are not able to read the book, take the initiative and watch the movie. You will, undoubtedly, like it.

It has been endorsed by other actors as well and mine is only to add icing on the cake. It has featured in the top movie charts across the world. Many thousands of copies have been sold to movie enthusiasts. Though it has taken a long time to piece the film together, it is indisputable that the duration taken is worth it. It is however, important that the film is adult-rated and children should not watch it until they are at the appropriate age.

Guest post by Love Reading – helping you to find your next book

The knights in shining armor is commonly used to refer to the medieval knights who had special place in the society, and had the obligation of saving women in distress in a courteous and gallant manner. The phrase is associated with the works of those Victorian painters and novelists enthralled by the chivalrous ideal of an imagined Camelot court, but armor used to be worn by the knights, and the one put on by the high nobility and the royalty was well polished and was in fact shining and gleaming.

One of the popular references of “knights in shining armor” could be dated to the 18th century based on Henry Pye’s poem, and many of the ones in the 19th century had citations describing imaginary knights on horses, rescuing the defenseless women. The medieval knight was a fighter, wooing ladies, but without seducing them deliberately, behaving honorably and using his sword to save the day. At the same time, any hero with similar behavior was also referred to as a knight in shining armor.

The Medieval Knight

Certain things were peculiar to the good medieval knights – they were honor, self-control, chivalry, and chastity in some cases. Given to delivering the face of the woman from false accusations or rescuing her when in distress, the knight was respected and was frequently a victim of the Dulcinea Effect – which was the strange compulsion of the heroes quest for, to champion, and in some cases die for the women whom he met some minutes earlier.

These were the popular people regarded as knights in shining armor in those days:

1. Saint George – this was the soldier in the Guard of Diocletian, and a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina. Due to his good reputation, he is still regarded as one of the highly respected saints in the Anglican, Catholic (Eastern and Western Rites), Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches.
2. Sir Bedivere – This knight had two children, Amren and Eneuawc, and according to Welsh legend, was associated with King Arthur.
3. Sir Geraint – Live before or during the reign of King Arthur.
4. Sir Lamorak – He had a complicated family, and was involved in a blood feud with the family of Lot, and some historians believe that he had romance with Morgause, Lot’s widow.
5. Sir Mordred – Generally known as the illegitimate son of King Arthur through Morgause, the the half sister of the king. Being a traitor, waged war against his father, fighting him at the Battle of Camlann.
6. Sir Sagramore – This knight was very popular, being the son of the king of Hungary.
7. Sir Lancelot – He is believed to have had a dubious loyalty to the King, and the was involved in searching for the Holy Grail.
8. Sir Griflet – He was the cousin to Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere, and the son of Do (sometimes Don). He was also one of the first allies of King Arthur.
9. King Pellinore – This king was enchanted by Merlin in order for King Arthur to be protected.
10. Sir Gareth – Before becoming a knight, he worked as a kitchen boy at the palace, and was looked down upon by Kay.
11. Sir Kay – This was the adopted brother of King Arthur.
12.  Gawain – It is believed that Gawain was courteous, formidable and as well a brash warrior, with complete loyalty to the king and the family of the king. To many young knights, he was a friend, a defender of the poor, and a defender of women, making him to be given the title of “the Maidens’ Knight”. He was a great healer through his knowledge of herbs, and believed to have had at least three children – Gingalain, Lovell and Florence.

According to early writings, he was the perfect or the ideal knight, against whom others knights were compared. However, he lost that ranking when he was involved with French romances, making other heroes like Lancelot, Perceval, Galahad and Tristan to have an upper hand over him. French writers regarded him as a womanizer and an anti-hero; a treacherous and ruthless knight, especially during the period of the Prose Tristan and Merlin Continuation.

If you’ve ever wanted to dress like a knight, check out the amazing (and historically accurate) Medieval Costumes at our website!

One way or another time often plays a crucial role in great movies. Many emphasize the passing of time to create a feeling of suspense or pathos. Others control your perception of events by manipulating time using flashbacks or glimpses of the future. Most at some point rely on your suspension of disbelief in relation to incidents of perfect timing and incredible coincidence. As a visual embodiment of these effects many great movies include a prominent timepiece, which often becomes the iconic image of the film.

Back to the Future

Never was the concept of time more crucial to a plot than in Back to the Future. The entire movie revolves around the paradox of time travel and the necessity for good timing. The clock in the town square is a recurring image in the film and the suspenseful climax of the action has Doc Brown at the clock trying desperately to be ready in time to harness a lightning bolt to power his DeLorean back to the future. A time traveler battling against time in the shadow of a clock, genius! Sadly the clock in the film is not a real one but is on a set at Universal Studios in Hollywood.

Safety Last

This silent classic sees Harold Lloyd climbing a tower block and hanging from the hands of a clock on the side of the building with his legs memorably dangling over the New York Streets. Lloyd performed the stunt himself and it became one of the most iconic scenes in movie history. Echoes of this brilliant stunt are seen in many films including the aforementioned Back to the Future and the 1978 Spy movie The 39 Steps.

The 39 Steps

This spy thriller revolved around a race against time as Richard Hannay desperately tries to unravel the mystery of a plot by Prussian agents to blow up the Greek Prime Minister who is visiting Parliament. Hannay discovers that the bomb will be triggered by Big Ben and ultimately has to stop the hands of the clock himself.

Brief Encounter

In the heart wrenching finale of this tale of love denied, housewife Laura Jesson is parted from Alec Harvey after the couple finally realize that their fledgling romance is not to be. The separation takes place at the fictional Milford railway station and the platform clock features prominently in the scene. The movie was shot at Carnforth station in Lancashire and the memorable clock was the real station timepiece. Sadly it was removed from the station in the 1970’s but when its place in movie history was recognized it was found, restored and replaced in its rightful position for all to see.

Dr No

Dr No introduced James Bond to the movie going public. Bond is a master of perfect timing and finding solutions to seemingly insoluble conundrums. How fitting, then, that a watch should so often play an important role in his amazing escapes. Bond has become synonymous with fine watches containing clever gadgetry but in the first movie his watch was just a watch. The first timepiece kept faith with the Bond of Ian Fleming’s novels as it was a Rolex but it came from a surprising source. The budget for the movie was tight and Rolex refused to lend a watch for the film so producer Cubby Broccoli used his own.

Ticking Clock

We are always aware of the ticking clock that is time in the great movies that we watch. We are swept into the urgency of the situations unfolding and the emotional predicaments of the characters. It is not real time we are watching, it is condensed and manipulated and yet so believable that we can never take our eyes off the clock on the screen. Perhaps that is why it is the image of the timepiece that always stays with us.

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Sally S writes for a number of blogs and on a diverse range of subjects including music, movies and travel. Sally’s own favorite timepieces are in the ladies Fossil ceramic watch series and high end Tissot watches.

Sometimes it is hard to judge whether James Bond is the best driver in the world – or the worst, given the number of car accidents he’s involved in.

Not everyone is as lucky as 007, who usually walks out of car wrecks shaken, but not often stirred.

The fact that Bond’s stunts are often performed by former Top Gear driver Ben Collins – aka The Stig – shows, however, the level of skill involved in making the character of James Bond look like hero behind the wheel.

In the latest Bond flick Skyfall – perhaps one of the most exciting when it comes to driving stunts – the cars were often driven by Collins from a specially constructed cage fitted to the roof of a vehicle, enabling complete control of steering and maneuvering.

The opening sequence of Skyfall featuring the spectacular chase scene in a Land Rover Defender through a marketplace in Istanbul owes its success to The Stig perched on the roof in a cage seat, steering for all he’s worth.

The cameraman was at times attached to the passenger wing of the vehicle, strapped into another caged seat – and the rest is Bond history.

The Land Rover Defenders used in the sequence had been specially modified by the technical team on the film, with improved suspension and the wheels given an extra 7 inches between them to enhance stability.

The Defenders’ gearboxes were also converted to auto from manual to make driving easier.

The film used 12 Defenders in total because the script demanded an SUV vehicle which Bond crashed – Jaguar Land Rover SUVs fitted the brief, although did not feature in Skyfall as a product placement, which is now common in many films.

Seeing thrilling scenes and car chases on the big screen can often bring out the daredevil in all of us – and the urge to “soup up” a vehicle’s engine to make it faster is not uncommon.

However, not everyone is a Stig – customising a car can be an absorbing hobby, but can also make a car unstable and unpredictable unless you really know what you are doing.

More young adult males are suffering serious injury – including traumatic brain injury – in road traffic accidents. Not all of them were driving like a secret service agent in a spot bother, but were on their to work, home from a night out or just simply driving to the local shop, which shows just how quickly a car accident can claim a victim through no fault of their own. Driving is dangerous when it is done properly, let alone when you have to dodge other road users who may be speeding, driving erratically or simply not concentrating on the road ahead.

The government is trying to reduce the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) and injuries in RTAs – and has even offered an alternative to points on a licence for speeding by offering the chance for drivers to take a Driving At Speed Awareness course (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Motoring/Article/Speed_Awareness_Courses-100266.html) instead.

However, for speed merchants, the best way of living the dream is to take advanced driving courses – such as those run by IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists at www.iam.org.uk) – and learn how to handle a car at speed, or in different driving conditions, such as on black ice.

IAM also offers Young Motorist Assessment to find out how you shape up behind the wheel – and taking advanced driving courses can also help reduce car insurance, which is much more practical option for reducing premiums than strapping The Stig to your roof.

If you have suffered a Vehicle Accident Injury you could be entitled to claim compensation with the help of a exert solicitor.