If on leaving the park-gate the road in front be taken, (and which is most proper for a carriage,) the church of Aylmerton [29b] will be passed, when turning immediately to the right, it will lead to the Holt-road, only a little higher than the entrance from the Lion’s Mouth. The drive will consist in that case, of about six miles,—if the road across the hills be taken, of seven.
EXCURSION TO MUNDESLEY,
THROUGH OVERSTRAND, SYDERSTRAND, TO TRIMMINGHAM, RETURNING BY SOUTHREPPS.
The drive from Cromer to Mundesley presents some of the finest sea-views imaginable. The road runs almost entirely along the coast, taking in its course the villages of Overstrand, Syderstrand, and Trimmingham.
About two miles E. by S. of Cromer, is the small parish of Overstrand, which extends two miles along the sea-cliffs, and is bounded inland by a lofty range of hills. On the beach is a hamlet, and fishing-station, commonly called Beck Hoy, with a curing-house, and a free-school, the latter built and supported, during her lifetime, by the late amiable and lamented Miss Buxton: it is now carried on by Miss Gurney, of Northrepp’s Cottage.
The old church, like that of Shipden, was swallowed up by the sea, which catastrophe took place in the reign of Richard II. The present, which is dedicated to St. Martyn, was then built on half an acre of ground given by John Reymes; but the chancel and part of the nave are in ruins, the remainder is walled in, and fitted for divine service. The living, which is very small, is in the gift of Lord Suffield. In the year 1250, (34 Hen. III.) a duel or combat of trial was fought on account of this lordship, on behalf of Agnes de Reymes.
Foulness, or Cromer light-house, is in this parish.
Syderstrand is a small parish, containing not more than four hundred acres of land, partly belonging to Samuel Hoare, Esq., the lord of the manor, and patron of the living, which is a rectory, alternately with the sovereign as Duchess of Lancaster. [31] The church, dedicated to St. Michael, stands on a solitary eminence, and in appearance and loneliness, reminds the traveller of the sacred edifices which salute his eye in the Isle of Man.
Not a tree or a bush casts a shade near it, the dead alone in their solitude surround it, and the deep calm is broken only by the hollow dash of the billows, or the occasional screech of the sea-mew.
Still continuing in view of the sea, you reach Trimmingham, which stands on the highest ground in Norfolk. The cliffs are here not less than three hundred feet high. It is five miles E. S. E. of Cromer, and the same distance N. by E. of North Walsham. The ocean here also gains considerably on the coast. Several years ago, two farm-houses, with their yards and outbuildings, were washed down by the sea. This accident was owing to the choking up of a spring, which occasioned such a subterraneous body of water, that several acres of land, as well as these buildings, were detached from the main land and washed into the sea.
The church stands on the highest point of the cliffs. It was formerly a favourite resort of the superstitious and ignorant; for its ancient priests pretended that they were in the possession of the hand of St. John the Baptist; an imposition which was a source of considerable wealth to them, as pilgrims from all parts visited it, making large offerings in honour of the precious relic. The living is in the gift of the crown. Part of the glebe land has been washed into the sea.