Fishley is a pretty little round-towered church set on a tree-crowded mound among flat fields. The nearest road is about a mile away, although there is a track to it which is just about driveable. There are no houses nearby, but the village of Upton is across the fields, and there is a good view of Upton church about half a mile off.

There is a restrained 15th century crenellation tothe top of the tower, and pretty little lancets and Y tracery windows. It is all very understated. Very unusually for this part of Norfolk, the church is kept locked. This is a pity, but I assume it is for the lack of anyone to make the journey there twice a day to lock and unlock it. There is unlikely to be anything medieval surviving here; even the font is 19th century, although I am told people travel to see the 18th century organ case.

One curiosity. The building has been very Victorianised, all in a neat Norman manner, which can sometimes be depressing, but isn't here. However, Pevsner claims that the south doorway is original. I could't see that it could be, as it is so neatly cut - look at the image above. I think it is 19th century, but I'd welcome other people's opinions.

Simon Knott, September 2004

You can also read: an introduction to some Broadland churches I