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Bassingbourn looks very grand from the outside. The west tower was the first thing that caught my eye - it was rebuilt in 1879 in the Early English style, with blind arcading on the bell-stage. Victorian it may be, but it's pleasant enough, and makes a pretty picture looking out over the main street.
The rest of the church, though, looks even more interesting. It has a big wooden porch, and a fine looking nave. Unfortunately, this is about as much as I can say...
I'm used to finding churches locked, particular if we visit relatively late in the day. I'm not so used to finding churchyards locked. In fact, the only other locked churchyard I've seen was at St Andrew the Less in Cambridge.
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There, it didn't matter much, since the churchyard seemed mainly to be a place that people dumped their rubbish. At Bassingbourn it was a crying shame - I hope that it's not a normal state of affairs.
From the gate, I was able to glimpse of what Pevsner describes as the church's claim to 'very special notice' - the chancel. It was built between 1340 and 1350, and is
'a complete and remarkably personally designed piece of Decorated architecture'
His description is enough to make one salivate, and the sight of it gleaming white at the far end of the church was very enticing, so I think Mark and I will be making a return journey before too long…
When we visited, SS Peter and Paul (and its churchyard) were locked.
I
don't know how normal an occurrence this is.