Alconbury. CHURCH : ST PETER AND ST PAUL

 Alconbury was my third and final church of the day, on a mini tour of the Huntingdon area, on what turned out to be a glorious, A day that started out with dense fog, had turned in to a gloriously sunny, late autumn day. After visiting Little and then Great Stukeley, this was to be a third locked church in succession.

  Alconbury, and neighbouring Alconbury Weston (the latter by the way having no church) are both picturesque villages close to the important Roman Road, Ermine Street. According to a little internet research it is likely that there has been a church here since the early 12th Century. The low Western tower was added in the early 13th Century, with the spire added later on that century.

  The church was restored in 1876, with the tower restored the following year. Whilst the tower was being restored Alconbury church made national headlines due to a remarkable piece of Victorian engineering. Amazingly, scaffolding held up the Spire whilst the tower beneath was being rebuilt!

  Church grounds were large and well maintained and the locals were very friendly. Several people stopped and showed an interest in what I was doing. Always nice to see people stop and pass the time of day, particularly in an age when people taking an interest in churches could be viewed with mistrust!

  Thios who know me will know my love of gargoyles and grotesques. This church had plenty, and very high quality ones as well! This is what I will remember this church for. One carving, pictured below left, appeared a lot older than the others. Very crudely carved, and it is tempting to say that the stonemason might have been on the mead prior to carving it.! Still, a certain rustic charm to it. Some of the other carvings were a delight. I particularly liked the Eagle pictured above left. This reminds me of a children's cartton character from years back when I was a kid....but I can't, for the life of me, put a name to it. Help me out anyone?