St Mary must surely be one of the prettiest churches in Norfolk - and the setting is delightful, too; at one end of the long village green, with cottages for company and a tight little graveyard just sufficiently overgrown enough to be beautiful. The village is a quiet place, because Beachamwell is off the beaten track, a few miles from the Downham Market to Swaffham road. No one passes through here - you only come to Beachamwell if you want to be here. St Mary is the last surviving church of four that once served this area. It has everything a church needs to be beautiful. The round tower is one of the earliest in Norfolk, early 11th century; through the trapdoor in the ringing platform you can see right up to the top. This is augmented by a gorgeous early 15th century octagonal bell stage, resplendent with flushwork. The church beside this is tiny, but has a lovely thatched roof to nave and chancel, with a south aisle tucked behind.
Update
Sadly this church has had a fire recently so is not looking as beautiful as it once did. Hopefully it will be restored someday
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