Riccall - St Mary

Riccall is noted for being the place where Harold Hardrada's force of invaders landed in 1066, just before the Battle of Stamford Bridge between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson. Although Harold Godwinson repelled the Norwegian invaders, his army was defeated by the Normans at Hastings less than three weeks later.

The oldest part of the church are the three western bays of the nave, which date from the mid- or late-12th century. The tower was built around the end of that century, then in the early 13th century, arcades were added, followed in the late 13th century by the chancel and north chapel. The chancel was repaired some time after 1472, when a south chapel was added. Between then and the English Reformation, the nave was heightened, a rood loft added, the aisles were widened, and a porch was built.

The church's most noted feature is the south doorway, built in the 1150s and reset twice, most recently in the 15th century.

A detail

Fighters, faces, a well-dressed cat, strange hairdos and a dog or donkey playing the harp...