The Church of St Mary The Virgin West Walton

Our June meeting was held at St Mary the Virgin Church at West Walton.
Members & friends met in the parochial cemetery where Barbara & Ron explained how Mi’s were recorded & encouraged members to ‘have a go at recording an inscription.
We then met up in the church where members of the church & the village community project described the church & the changes that had taken place over the centuries.
The church was built of Barnack stone in 1240. Prior Albert is regarded as the founder of the church & his tomb is inside with the remains of a life size effigy upon it.
The tower built in 1250 is situated about 60 yards away & forms a lichgate entrance to the Church. This phenomenon is not unusual in Fenland as the structure of the land could not withstand the enormous weight of Church & Tower together, but legend has it that the Devil wanted the Tower for himself & tried to carry it away but found it too heavy & let it fall.
The Tower has bells installed although they are not now rung, as the stonework is not deemed to be strong enough to support the ringing.
In its time the church has been foreshortened & made wider & the roof has been replaced by a ‘second hand roof’’ from Suffolk.
During recent restoration work paintings high up on the nave walls were discovered.
It appears that they were painted to look like tapestries. There are many artefacts on the walls of the church stating the dates that repairs have been made & noting the rectors & churchwardens at the time.
There is a large wooden board telling of two great floods that the area suffered in the 1600’s
In 1960 several grave – stones were removed from the grave – yard
The Parochial cemetery is diagonally opposite to the church.
[Barbara Holmes]