Trowse: the hex-t big thing.

HERE’S The Street at Trowse as you’ve never seen it before. It’s one of a number of pictures taken via a Hexcam and showing now on the brighter, shinier Trowse website. Site administrator Martin Kentish persuaded his mate with the clever remote-controlled mini-helicopter to go up above his village. And the images are impressive. I’d love a few shots of the Wensum taken from that height for my next book. They would really show how the river separates Costessey from Taverham; Hellesdon from Mile Cross etc etc.

Hexcams. I want one.

Ghosts of St Andrew’s at Whitlingham

HERE’S a spot that doesn’t see much in the way of human traffic. Sure, cars from the A47 southern bypass zoom past the remains of St Andrew’s Church off Whitlingham Lane, but it’s a struggle to get up close on two legs. I haven’t been here since I got a photo for the Whitlingham chapter of my book a good four or five years ago.

But on a beautiful spring evening with a low sun it’s always hard to resist the urge to search for a perfect picture. 

St Andrew’s had lain empty since the 17th century, but its round tower collapsed as recently as 1940. I love abandoned churches, even if the remains are as scattered and as insubstantial as they are here. Just a shame I ripped a huge hole in the trousers of my best whistle-and-flute on barbed wire getting the photo.

* For a photo of St Andrew’s as it used to be, try the recently updated Trowse website.