Benchmark - St Andrew - Scole, Norfolk - U.K. and Ireland Trigpoints on Waymarking.com

A cut benchmark on the north corner of St Andrew's church tower, Scole.

"The church dates from the end of the 13th century, the first named incumbent being John de Petreste in 1297. It was built on a hill overlooking the River Waveney and, although it is now near the centre of the village, at that time there can have been few dwellings near it.

The first reference to "Scole" comes during the reign of Edward III (1312 to 1377) when there was a reference to Scoles as a hamlet of Osmundston, from then on the hamlet increased in size until it became the main part of the village.

Little of the original medieval building remains, apart from the walls and the tower, although there is a 14th century piscina in the south wall and pre-reformation paintings in a niche in the north wall. The most westerly free-standing pillar has some very interesting graffiti scratched into the stone near the base. It is clearly a helmeted face but its date is uncertain. The font and the base of the lectern are 15th century but the font cover and the lectern itself were destroyed in the fire of 7th January 1963.

The fire destroyed the entire roof from the chancel to the tower, together with the choir stalls and organ. However, many of the pews were saved and have been in situ until recently. Following the fire the striking East Window was installed with the panels representing the past (the Old Testament), the present (the New Testament) and the future (the Apocalypse).

The interior has recently been re-ordered, i.e. the Victoria pews have been removed and have been replaced with comfortable chairs which are more versatile and will enable greater use to be made of the Church. The opportunity was also taken carry out some much needed redecoration."

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