Walks in England: The Wall Paintings of Hardham Church

I am join by Martin Snow today to explore the important early paintings in Hardham Church. Dated around 1100AD, these recently uncovered paintings demonstrate just how vivid the early Norman churches would have been on the side.

Also, Hardham Church is a wonderful example of how Saxon and Norman rural churches looked like in their day. Covered in a lime wash to protect the walls, they look beautiful in the landscape.

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I film with a Gopro and Zyiun Smooth 3 Gimbal, Rode Lavalier and Zoom H4 recorder..

[cynthiapate]

Thank you for a wonderful trip to a lovely church. It feels very comforting and has a beauty all its own...as lovely as any cathedral.

[michaelwhite]

Great video, when the world was still sane ! Amazing little church.

[bullettube]

I remember watching "The History of Britain" and one of the episodes was about the reformation. At one time all the old churches in England were Catholic churches and all would have had statues of the saints and wall paintings that told biblical stories. But during the dissolution austerity was imposed, the statues were destroyed and the murals were painted over, and all had their outer rendering removed. Sadly, removing the rendering meant many churches began to deteriorate as their mortar was washed away, and today parishes struggle to (at great cost) preserve buildings that really just need a bit of lime render. Lesson learned: austerity never pays for itself and the old craftsmen should never be underestimated.

[HenrysAdventures]

Another interesting video! I walked past this church a few weeks ago after visiting the South Downs Light Railway but it wasn't open.

[EvanCampaneroDeCadiz]

2 bells in the tower, according to doves guide, one of the bells dates circa 1050AD. Thats around 12 years older than the lullusglocke from Badhersfeld.

[abilenechristianuniversity]

Thank you, Richard and Martin, for an illuminating and, indeed, inspiring tour of this historic site. I long to return to the UK in the future, this time seeking out lesser known treasures like the one you've here featured. I am especially pleased, incidentally, when your travels transport viewers to sites of spiritual significance. Many thanks!

[MrGreatplum]

Another interesting church and a wonderful survivor - fascinating wall photos. There’s a church near me, Bletchingley, that has a surviving ‘squint’ - it’s hard to believe that people would walk themselves in like that!

[kevinpredragovich]

Great insight by Martin on this video. Love hearing all this history.

[keswick]

A great video of an amazing slice of British history. Imagine if you were a traveller back in the day, seeing all these churches from afar.

[ramibu]

Wonderful church at Hardham! A very lovely Saxson/Norman Church. Loved all the paintings and history. So good to see knowledgeable & ever jolly Martin again (I know this was filmed a while ago)!!! Always fun to see what shade of Orange he will be wearing!🧡😁😉 Do tell him hello & that we all miss him; hope to see him again soon; & hope things are well with his mother!🙋‍♀️

[SimonBrown]

You're a great team. Great knowledge from Martin and a cool orange shirt too!

[robintripp]

Hi Richard, lovely video, will Martin be presenting again with you at some point?

[Duffy]

Amazing about this anchorite interesting.

[riceyo]

How did the walled priest go to the toilet ...curious.. also I doubt they would live long like that..

[pattismith]

The wall paintings were originally brightly painted.... 🙂

[peterkrauss]

Hard to believe England was once devoutly Catholic

[orangeedo]

A man living in a box for a God just shows people were vulnerable to propaganda then too. How sad.

[johnbyrne]

STANE STREET MOMENTS (verse 3 of 4)
What message travels the wooden pole wire?
dwindling rank in the pews neath the spire
almighty forgiveness they no longer seek
of gain and posession is all that they speak
a few copper coins in a box by the door

subsist for the no longer needy or poor
what future in store for the church in the lane?
as soft leaning headstones dissolve in the rain...JB08