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Newtown, THETFORD, IP24 3AU

The church stands derelict, and the graveyard neglected, or that’s how it was when I took this photograph. A sad sight, but a sign of the times. At one time according to Cautley Thetford had 13 churches, now only three remain and this has now gone and St Peter’s is redundant, leaving only St Cuthbert’s. He also writes nothing about the churches, as they had all been extensively rebuilt or restored and nothing of interest remained. However this church is basically 14th c. with a broad truncated tower. It was taken into use by the RCC in 1980 and virtually everything stripped out. All that is left now it has been deserted is a canopied niche over the porch, the piscina and wall monuments. The most significant being that of Sir Richard Fulmerstone (1567) and his wife Alice. Saint Mary the Less was Mother of St. James the Less and Joseph, wife of Cleophas. She was one of the three Marys who served Jesus and was present at the crucifixion, and accompanied Mary Magdalen to the tomb of Christ. Tradition reports that she went to Spain as a missionary. Mary reportedly died at Ciudad Rodrigo. Another tradition states that she went to France with St. Lazarus and his sisters but like all these things no one really knows.

The Roman Catholic church of St Mary, in Newtown, was built in 1826 immediately following the Catholic Emancipation Act of that year. Constructed in knapped flint with gault brick dressings. Listed, grade II*, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207963 Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.

Attached to the Roman Catholic church of St Mary Image is the Presbytery, number 73 Newtown. Built in 1829 as a pair of houses for a priest and a curate, the houses were combined into one in the 20th century. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1195909 Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.

Redundant and neglected https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1297899

The mark which has a bolt is on the south-west buttress of the tower, facing south-west, approximately 1.25 metres above ground level. For more information on this and other bench marks visit the bench mark database > http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm35273 The church is in a derelict state.

The redundant church of St Mary the Less has fragments from the 11th century but is mainly late 14th century. The tower was rebuilt in the 15th century and the chancel was rebuilt in the late 19th century as part of a restoration. One of only three medieval churches in the town, it has undergone periods of dereliction and restoration, being used as a stable during the 17th century. The tower was shortened in the mid 20th century. The church became redundant in 1987 and became derelict. Repair work is currently in hand and there are plans to convert the church into apartments. Listed, grade II*, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1297899 Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.

15th Century Grade II listed Anglican church not now in use.

Close to the centre of the town, this redundant church is boarded up and in the churchyard the gravestones are beginning to be choked by weeds and long grass. Parts of the church indicate 11th and 12th century origins and the squat-looking tower is probably 15th century. However, there was a major restoration and rebuild in 1850 which served to mask many of the original features.

Now disused, this church is located near the centre of Thetford. The path through the churchyard is used as a short-cut between Bury Road and St Mary's Close.