Church - Church Aylsham St.Michael & All Angels

Aylsham St. Michael and All Angels
There is a record of a priest in Aylsham in 1066 with the Saxon name of Brithric. The current church was started about 1270 during the decorated period. John of Gaunt who owned Aylsham is credited with the building of the church.

An impressive church with a nice Lych Gate. The south porch has rich flushwork panelling with the arms of France and England.		There are some lovely stained glass windows inside.

Burials are no longer allowed here and have not been, since 1855 though ashes continue to be placed. Humphrey Repton the renowned landscape gardener who designed Sheringham Park has his memorial outside the church against the south wall of the chancel.	He chose this site and even designed the small garden. He also composed his own epitaph which reads 'not like Egyptian tyrants consecrate, Unmixed with others shall my dust remain, But mold’ring, blending, melting into Earth, Mine shall give form and colour to the Rose, And while its vivid blossoms cheer Mankind, Its perfumed odours shall ascend to Heaven’.	There is also a charnel house which was a place originally designed to keep bones and a funeral hatchment over the south west door Note the raised table tomb with its protective iron canopy against grave robber, the canopy is known as a mort-safe. By looking up you will note a number of gargoyles.