IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Icknield Way, THETFORD, IP24 3BB

For a view of this disused and neglected church see > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023934.

For a view of this disused and neglected church see > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023934.

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.

Of the 21 medieval churches that once existed in Thetford only three are still standing. St Mary the Less > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023934 in Old Bury Road is the oldest of the three. The Grade II listed building was declared redundant in 1975 and sold to a private developer. It has since changed ownership several times without any work having been done to it. The windows are boarded up > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023961 and the stained glass panels > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023964 still contained therein appear to have been smashed from within. Ever since a section of the north aisle roof has collapsed a flock of feral pigeons > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023967 has moved in, causing further damage to the structure. The churchyard is reverting back to a wilderness, with brambles growing against the south wall, covering old monuments > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023957 placed there. The structure has recently been included in both English Heritage's and Norfolk County Council's list of Buildings at Risk, in an effort that something may soon be done to stop the ongoing dereliction > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023951.

Of the 21 medieval churches that once existed in Thetford only three are still standing. St Mary the Less in Old Bury Road is the oldest of the three. The Grade II listed building was declared redundant in 1975 and sold to a private developer. It has since changed ownership several times without any work having been done to it. The windows are boarded up > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023961 and the stained glass panels > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023964 still contained therein appear to have been smashed from within. Ever since a section of the north aisle roof has collapsed a flock of feral pigeons > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023967 has moved in, causing further damage to the structure. The churchyard is reverting back to a wilderness, with brambles growing against the south wall, covering old monuments > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023957 placed there. The structure has recently been included in both English Heritage's and Norfolk County Council's list of Buildings at Risk, in an effort that something may soon be done to stop the ongoing dereliction > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023951.

Of the 21 medieval churches that once existed in Thetford only three are still standing. St Mary the Less > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023934 in Old Bury Road is the oldest of the three. The Grade II listed building was declared redundant in 1975 and sold to a private developer. It has since changed ownership several times without any work having been done to it. The windows are boarded up > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023961 and the stained glass panels > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023964 still contained therein appear to have been smashed from within. Ever since a section of the north aisle roof has collapsed a flock of feral pigeons > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023967 has moved in, causing further damage to the structure. The churchyard is reverting back to a wilderness, with brambles growing against the south wall, covering old monuments > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023957 placed there. The structure has recently been included in both English Heritage's and Norfolk County Council's list of Buildings at Risk, in an effort that something may soon be done to stop the ongoing dereliction > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023951.

This view was taken from St Mary's Close. Of the 21 medieval churches that once existed in Thetford only three are still standing. St Mary the Less > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023934 in Old Bury Road is the oldest of the three. The Grade II listed builting was declared redundant in 1975 and sold to a private developer. It has since changed ownership several times without any work having been done to it. The windows are boarded up > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023961 and the stained glass panels > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023964 still contained therein appear to have been smashed from within. Ever since a section of the north aisle roof has collapsed a flock of feral pigeons > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023967 has moved in, causing further damage to the structure. The churchyard is reverting back to a wilderness, with brambles growing against the south wall, covering old monuments > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023957 placed there. The structure has recently been included in both English Heritage's and Norfolk County Council's list of Buildings at Risk, in an effort that something may soon be done to stop the ongoing dereliction > http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2023951.