Beyton & Drinkstone All Saints Church, nr Bury St Edmunds December 2016

[tallginge]

Beyton All Saints​

It was a bit naughty this one, sneaking about in a small, live, religious building. “Goodness” knows what I’d have said if someone had come in and looked up. Well I wasn’t after lead and if I’d have asked to go up they’d have probably let me…..but where’s the fun in that! I used to live in Beyton and went to the Sunday school in the building next door. The tower is circular, you don’t see them very often and it’s really old so I wanted to see what was upstairs. I tried fiddling with the lock, which kept the ladders attached to the wall but resorted to removing the whole bracket from the wall, which gave enough slack to extend it to the height needed to get to the trapdoor but only just! Naughty, naughty I know, but obviously it was all replaced and apart from a bit of dust left on the floor I left no trace of my presence! Lots of buildings are clad in flint (with thatched rooves) in the area as this is the only durable local rock, found amongst all the chalk. Lots of hand-held pics – time was of the essence…..​

This guy describes Suffolk churches well and has some nice daytime pics​

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/beyton.htm​

Drinkstone All Saints​

(an area of many saints it seems – hardly surprising I’m from the area I suppose…)​

Another naughty one (I hope these stay public though) and another rushed job. I was just pleased to have a quick look round. I think the weather had deteriorated soon after leaving Beyton so no roof pics unfortunately, just another load of blurry handheld shots. Twas nice to see a collection of six bells, squeezed into the 17th Century tower, though. Brick porn in Drinkstone lol! Apparently, it was one of the earliest Suffolk towers built specifically for the sport of bell ringing. I’m gutted, now, that I didn’t spend more time on photo’s here – lightroom has helped but only marginally.​

http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/drinkstone.html​

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If anyone ever happens to drive past these two, or heaven forbid, pay a visit, then at least you now know what’s up the top of them without having to go sneakin’! It had bugged me for years​

 

[HughieD]

Ha ha...you're a braver soul than me! Big up to you for getting up there.

 

[Speed]

Didn't realise you were a suffolk boy too lol

 

[tallginge]

@Speed haha yes buh, born and bred, strong in the arm.............lol, just wasn't into exploring when i lived there. It was motorbikes back then. @HughieD braver? not sure about that. Dafter and luckier on this occasion maybe

 

[The Witness]

nicely done i know the area very well

 

[tallginge]

nicely done i know the area very well

It is for the likes of you that i wrote this then! Not exactly tour bus stuff and most of them what do know of it don't exactly go creeping round it of a winters evening trying to climb the tower Glad you enjoyed it. I've fond memories of Beyton