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I Location

II General Description

The original church was rebuilt in neo-Norman style by G. E. Street in 1857, incorporating two original Romanesque doorways.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) S doorway

Re-set in the 19thc. in S nave wall. Of two orders.

First order

This is square in section, without ornament or capitals. It supports an arch with an angle roll and two half-rolls on its vertical face.

Second order

Attic bases, plain nook-shafts.

L capital: with an upright palmette on each face.

R capital: as L capital, with the remains of an angle volute, with a vertical row of beading below.

The L impost is carved with lozenges containing four-petalled flowers. The R has rows of nested zigzag. Each extends to the label.

The arch has a double row of centrifugal angled chevron, of the profile: roll; roll, separated by a small roll and with a further outer small roll. Cogwheel edge.

The label is carved with nested zigzag, similar to the R impost.

Dimensions

(ii) N doorway

Re-set in the 19thc. in N nave wall. Of two orders.

First order

This is square in section and without ornament or capitals. It supports an arch with an angle roll and with two half-rolls on the face.

Second order

No bases, plain detached nook-shafts. Weathered capitals.

L capital: upright palmette motif.

R capital: remains of mask on the angle, flanked by foliage.

The face of the L impost has a row of pierced balls flanked by cable moulding. The R impost has the remains of a running ball motif on its lower edge. Each extends to the label.

The arch is as the S doorway having a double row of centrifugal angled chevron, of the profile: roll; roll, separated by a small roll and with a further outer small roll. Cogwheel edge. The label bears a double row of thick, syncopated radial billet.

Dimensions

VII History

At the time of the Domesday survey of 1086, Roydon (near King’s Lynn), in the Hundred of Freebridge, was held by the Bishop of Bayeux.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The two doorways, with their closely comparable dimensions, were probably prefabricated off-site.

The N doorway (1984) appears to have been completely coated with grey limewash, (now flaking) which makes it difficult to ascertain the extent of any restoration. The capitals and imposts are badly weathered and seem to have lost most of their detail. One of the voussoirs of the outer order, on the left, has been replaced in carstone. A carstone mortar seems to have been used to build up a damaged rod of the chevron ornament on the outer order, on the right-hand side.

On the S doorway, the voussoirs at the top of both arch orders have been replaced. Both capitals are badly worn. Unlike the N doorway, the S doorway has not been limewashed, presumably because it has been protected by its porch. Pevsner states that the ‘N doorway at least has been completely rebuilt’. In fact this is true of the S door also, given that both would have been dismantled before being reassembled in the new 19thc. nave walls.

The radial billet is a localised ornament type, found also at Chedgrave, Heckingham, Hellington, South Lopham, Mundham, Thurlton, Thurton and Thwaite.

IX Bibliography