North Ockendon's St.Mary Magdalene Church is thought to date back to before 1075AD. However it may date back as far as 630AD as St.Cedd, Bishop of the East Saxons, is thought to have carried out baptisms at the adjacent St.Cedd's Well. This well is still visible next to the medieval moat and can be accessed via a gate and a flight of steps in the south western churchyard wall.
The church of St. Mary Magdalene, Church Lane, comprises chancel with north vestry and Lady Chapel, nave with north aisle and south porch, and a west tower. Its walls are of ragstone and flint with dressings of Reigate stone. The nave and chancel were built in the later 12th century but the south doorway is the only surviving feature of that date. A north aisle was added in the mid 13th century; it has the unusual feature of a normal arcade of three bays to the east and a plain arch piercing the nave wall to the west, but the reasons for this are unknown. The north chapel, which has an arcade of two bays to the chancel, was added c. 1300. The chancel may have been remodelled at or soon after this time. The north aisle was given a new doorway and windows in the later 14th century. In the 15th century the tower was added and the chancel arch and part of the arcade were rebuilt; at least one new window was put into the nave; and the whole building was reroofed.
The ladder to the bell chamber in the tower is made from logs split into four and dates from around 1500.
The cache has a log book but no pen so please bring one with you.
PLEASE REPLACE THE LOGBOOK IN THE ZIPLOCK BAG AS THIS KEEPS IT DRY !!
You are looking for a 35mm film case
If any body would like to expand to this series please do, could you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.