Chelmsford hits the megalithic trail

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ocifant O
ocifant Jun 22, 2008 13:41:55
Replying to Littlestone

I've seen several circiumstances around the country where large stones seem to have been incorporated into the fabric of a church in this way.

I'd urge caution in giving them a 'pre-church' pagan providence.

I came upon some such yesterday in Hertfordshire. St Mary's, Pirton has large stones underpinning several of the buttresses on the outside of the church, similar to those used in Pewsey, and also in Amersham (where the stones are largely puddingstone). See http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c194/ocifant/IMG_4628.jpg for an example.

In this case, reading the church history booklet solves the mystery, where it states that the stones are the remains of a previous church on the site, dated in the 15th century, and marked as such on the church plan. That isn't to say that all such stones have a similar origin, but it's worth popping a quid or two in the box to have a squint at the church history booklets for any clues...

L Littlestone
Littlestone Jun 22, 2008 17:58:48
Replying to ocifant

I'd urge caution in giving them a 'pre-church' pagan providence.
You're definitely wise to be cautious ocifant, and it's certainly easy to get carried away with something as startling as the black puddingstone protruding from the foundations of Broomfield church. Factors other than the puddingstone, in and around the church however, are persuasive. The raised ground that the church stands on. The two sarsens (rare themselves for the area) by the church gate. Roman bricks built into the church walls, folktales of a dragon's footprint and the nearby pond all indicate that the site is of considerable antiquity. In a recent email from someone else who has visited and photographed the Broomfield church puddingstone that person says, "Significant thing is that the stone is not a foundation stone as is often claimed. It is above lower stones and protruding so it seems clear that it is a statement."

We might never know what it's all about, or if it's about anything at all. The Broomfield site however is now up for further examination and comment, and that in itself might be interesting :-)

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