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All
Saints, Intwood The southern fringe of the city of Norwich
can seem as rural and remote as anywhere in the county.
Intwood church, just beyond the suburbia of Eaton and
Cringleford, stands above a deep-set meeting of lanes,
with the great pile of Intwood Hall behind it. The
parishes are densely packed around here. Inevitably,
several fell out of use after the 16th century
Reformation, and All Saints was one of them. When Henry
Hobart bought Intwood Hall in the 1590s, he restored All
Saints to use; principally for the view from the House,
one assumes. he used the masonry of the similarly
derelict All Saints church at Keswick, a mile or so off.
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setting is the greatest asset of the church. The
15th century top to what is otherwise an early
tower stands like a crown above the characterful
graveyard. Just to the west of the church is a
fine early 20th century memorial with images of
Faith, Hope and Charity. Given that
the church was restored in the 1590s, an unusual
date, you might expect a rather individual
interior. In fact, a succession of thorough 19th
century restorations have left little trace of
the Elizabethans, let alone the medieval life of
the building. That said, this is a typically
plain, simple Victorian low church interior, with
substantial poppyheaded benches which make the
place feel a little overful, and a west gallery
of the same period which you reach by climbing
the tower stairs. There's a Gurney memorial
nearby. Another significant Norwich family, as
well as a taste of the Empire, is recalled by the
memorial to Lieutenant Clement William Onley
Unthank, who died in Lucknow in 1900, playing
Polo.
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