Walking from cache No 1 to this cache you will pass the 1st of 2 churches. "Holy Trinty". Read below to discover the history of this Grade II listed church. Once at Cache No 2, follow the public footpath through the wooden gate and enjoy a short walk to the peaceful ruins of St Theobalds Church.
Holy Trinity Church is a grade II listed parish church. It was built in 1864 by Thomas Jekyll for Reverend John Girling in a gothic style, one of only two buildings in East Anglia designed and built by him. The church was built to replace St Theobald out in the fields, 500m away.
Holy Trinity Church has the only surviving examples of transfer glass in Norfolk which dates from around 1880-1890. This technique is used on three windows which originated from St Theobald's Church, built nearby. The technique involves laying the images on the glass and then transferring them; cheaper than the true stained glass process.
There used to be a 12th Century font here, brought from St Theobalds Church; when Holy Trinity church was consecrated in 1864 it had no pulpit, altar or lectern. John Huggins decorated the church internally in 1865. For more information about the amazing font, see here.
Inside the church can be found memorial plaques to members of the Patteson family, including the two sisters who bequeathed Hautbois House and Estate to Girlguiding.
Girlguiding Anglia is now the owner of this building; services are no longer held there. Pre-booked access is available through admin@hautbois.org.uk.
St Theobald’s Church, now in ruins, is a parish church which is thought to date back to the 11th century. The main building was extended throughout the medieval period (12th-14th centuries) It was ruined during Victorian times and a new church was built in the middle of Great Hautbois, but the graveyard is still in use. The ruins show the unique Saxo-Norman round tower, and square shape of the building.
The shrine to St Theobald located at the Church made it a popular pilgrimage site. There was also a hospice near the church used to give shelter to these pilgrims, as well as care for the sick.
There are also some reused Roman bricks in the walls - look for thick red tiles! They came from a Roman military camp on a hill above Horstead.
The gravestones for the Patteson sisters, and other members of the family can be found here. One visitor has commented, “…the local Hall family have rather monopolised this space for their gravestones, a kind of mausoleum on the cheap