Autumn Equinox Pilgrimage 2024 – Norfolk
Tuesday 24 September @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
The Norfolk Broads and the Rockstone Ley from Horning to Stalham on Tuesday 24th September 10.30 – 4.30
After several years pilgrimaging along the Rockstone ley line from Shingle Street in Suffolk, we have reached the equally unique landscape of the Broads and are nearing the sea and the end of the line.
We shall meet at St Benedict’s Church, Horning, which is north of Ranworth Broad at 10.30. There is ample parking by the church, but no loo I’m afraid. In the town, about a mile away there is a café and a public toilet by the car park.
Horning is mentioned in the Doomsday Book where it is called Horningam. When it was built in 1220 it was in the centre of a group of hamlets in the Manor of Horning. It originally belonged to St Benet’s Abbey, which has the distinction of being the only abbey in the land not supressed by Henry VIII. There are some wonderful carved wooden finials on the benches, a fierce looking devil and some fishlike creatures. Outside a large oak and a beach make an arched gateway and there is a seven-minute walk to a nearby staithe, which is well worth doing.
Our next port of call is Irsted and St Michael’s Church, which is approached along an oak lined road. Above the entrance is a carving of St Michael with a rather friendly looking dragon. Inside is a beautiful font and delicately carved wooden pulpit. The thatched roof which can be seen from the inside, gives it a rather rustic feel.
Weather permitting, we will drive to where we can walk along a boardwalk by Turkey Broad Staithe and have a picnic. Depending where we park, you can choose a shorter or longer version of the walk. Alternatively, if the weather is bad, the White Horse pub in Neatishead is a ten-minute drive away.
The ley line then takes us north to Stalham and a large church in the middle of the village dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The energy here is very strong and peaceful. It was built in the 1400s and has a particularly beautiful font. If time allows, we’d like to fit in another church, a short distance away at East Ruston. Otherwise we will close the pilgrimage here.
Please bring any songs, poems, or instruments you would like and weather permitting, a picnic lunch.
Further info and to Book contact: carolineweatherby@gmail.com Tel 07517 338950
Donation to Gatekeeper Trust for the day: £5 - £10 or what you can afford.