Necton, Norfolk - All Saints: C15th angel roof, restored in 1982. The structure is one of alternating arch-braces and hammerbeams. The colour is apparently largely original. The fact that the angels are horizontal and carved into the hammerbeams suggests that it was built before ca. 1450.
Necton, Norfolk - All Saints: Close up of a C15th hammerbeam angel. This is fairly high quality carving; the clothing, hands and hair are well modelled.
North Creake, Norfolk - St Mary: An alternating arch-brace and hammerbeam roof. Birkin Haward suggested that roof structures like this, in which the hammerbeams have been carved into angels, are an early type, dating predominantly from the first half of the C15th. Since the angel roof in the neighbouring village of South Creake can be dated with some confidence to shortly after 1415, and inter-village rivalry was an important driver of church rebuilding in the C15th, a pre-1450 date for North Creake's roof is plausible. North Creake's angels carry musical instruments, crowns (royal and papal), and other objects, including the Instruments of the Passion.
North Creake, Norfolk - St Mary: Discolouration on the box-like backing to the figures here suggests that they once had wings, though this one would only have had room for one wing, since it is crammed up against the wall. Truncation like this is seen in many angel roof churches (even the grandest ones, such as St Mary, Bury St Edmunds). Angels were almost certainly carved offsite (see the account of the construction of Westminster Hall roof on the Introduction page) and then, if necessary, the end angels in the series were cut down in situ to fit the available space. The box structure behind the figure and the decorative strip above it is paralleled in many other angel roofs.
North Creake, Norfolk - St Mary: Another of North Creake's roof angels, its wings lost. The angel holds a diminutive figure, representing a soul. The carving is charming, characterful, but relatively simple. The hands are slightly disproportionate, the modelling of the hair quite basic. Contrast this with the carving at Methwold in Norfolk, or at St Mary, Bury St Edmund, which is sculpture of a very different order. Nonetheless, North Creake's angels are delightful. They are also the first that I photographed in Norfolk, in the middle of a Summer fete in the church, and I have a particular affection for them.
North Creake, Norfolk - St Mary: Another of the hammerbeam angels, its wings lost. It carries the pillar of Christ's scourging, a symbol of the Passion. Shallow relief demi-angels decorate the wall plate behind it. The decorative strips above the main angel are repeated along the wall plate.
North Creake, Norfolk - St Mary: A demi-angel on the wall plate, framed by decorative strips, called "traylles".
Northwold, Norfolk - St Andrew: A roof of alternating arch-braces and hammer beams, heavily repainted. The marked curvature on the top side of the photograph is mainly due to lens distortion.
Northwold, Norfolk - St Andrew: Repainted angel roof bosses.
Norwich, Norfolk - St Peter Mancroft: The church was built between 1430 and 1455 on the site of an earlier structure. Its scale and magnificence reflect the affluence of the city in the C15th. The roof is a spectacular piece of carpentry; cosmetic fan vaults rendered in wood but mimicking stone, conceal structural hammer beams. This design is also found at Ringland in Norfolk.
The clerestory, of 17 windows on each side, makes the church very bright and airy. Mancroft's is one of five surviving angel roofs in Norwich churches. (The others are St Michael at Plea, St Peter Hungate, St Giles, and St Mary Coslany).
Norwich, Norfolk - St Peter Mancroft: Roof angels and timber fan vaulting.
Norwich, Norfolk - St Peter Mancroft: Detail of a roof angel, dating from 1430-1455. It holds a stringed instrument, perhaps a lute.
Norwich, Norfolk: St Michael at Plea: C15th. Repainted angels on the ridge beam. The church is now a bookshop.