St John The Baptist Church Whitton

Had a long walk today, left the house at 11.40am on an adventure of discovery...ok i wanted to see if i could get all the way to Whitton from Winteringham on foot. It took me approximately 3 hours to walk the approximately 6 mile round trip ( google maps said 2.9 miles each way, however i returned a different way along the humber bank, which i think is longer). When i was approaching Whitton i spotted the church, and being a sucker for church architecture i decided to go investigate. The Church had a sign outside which was advertising an open day, yipee actually got to go inside and take a look. And what a little gem it was too. Here is the write up from the web site churchtrails Barton and surrounding areas web site


Standing to the north of the church of St. John, gazing towards the River Humber, it is easy to imagine this scene through the eyes of the Roman invaders in 48 AD. In this region the IXth legion, commanded by the Emperor Claudius, halted its advance having landed on the southern shores of England five years earlier. Twenty three years later the legion forded the Humber a few miles to the east, at Winteringham, to continue their conquest. The church did not exist in these times but the Norman tower we see today incorporates massive Roman stone blocks, reminding us of Roman might that once dominated this land.

Long after the last Roman legion had left these shores in 410AD, further invasions came from the Viking, Danes and Saxons. Little imagination is needed to re-live the awesome sight of a fleet of Viking long ships sailing up the Humber destined for Yorvik, their settlement at York.
Twenty years after the invasion of 1066 AD by William of Normandy the Normans compiled an astonishing record of contemporary assets, known as the Domesday Book. In the book Whitton is recorded as having land for eight ploughs, the land was valued at seven pounds.

Of the Norman church only elements of the tower remain, today housing three bells, the third of which was brought over the Humber from Welton. Inside the church another relic of these times survives in the form of a Norman font. The nave, chancel and small vestry are the result of a later rebuilding between 1892 and 1897.

Information supplied by http://www.churchtrails.com/barton-area/alkborough/

Have to say had a great walk and tour round yet another church, although i may never be able to walk again :-) my legs feel like they are going to drop off :-(