Thorpe Church

Information from Glasses Directories obtained in 1983 by the late Lt Cmdr T D Helps, of Thorpe Hall:

Church notes taken 8^th August 1806 by HJ and DED:

Thorpe is a hamlet of Ashfield, and belongs to James Bridges Esq. The Church consists of a Nave and a Chancel; the Chancel is 16ft 5ins long and 16ft 10ins wide. It is ceiled. The Communion Table is raised one step, but not enclosed. The nave is 34 feet long and 16ft 3ins wide, and separated from the Chancel by a heavy, clumsy screen. The Nave, and part of the Chancel, is pewed and seated in Oak; the Pulpit is hexagonal and fixed in the NE corner, of Oak painted pale blue. The Font is the one stone basin let into a window seat on the North side. Against the East end of the Chancel and above the window, are the Lord's Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments, and upon the upper part of the screen is fixed a mahogany frame, bearing the following Inscription:

"This Church was rebuild by George Pitt the Younger Esq., in the Year of our Lord 1739"

Against the South wall are the arms of George III. The steeple is a round tower of flints, embattled, and contains only one Bell, which is thus inscribed: "Charles Framlingham, Knight, 1592". The outside walls are plastered and the whole roof is covered with tile. There are no Inscriptions in the Church; there have been no persons buried in the Church, nor in the churchyard.

In 1219 the chapel was owned by Sibton Abbey. After the Reformation, Francis Framlingham hired Thorpe (and Ashfield) from the King or 1/30 of a Knight's fee, followed by his heir Sir Charles Framlingham, then Charles Hygonis, Knight, then Charles Gawdy, Knight; then George Pitt, then John Pitt; and in 1764, by purchase, James Bridges Esq.

Revisited on 19^th November 1833. Ground plan added. No change since 1806.