Mockingbird Takes A Stroll To Cold Christmas In Black & White
This ruined church is certainly a peaceful place to be early in the morning, I was in the area and decided to track it down for a quick visit, situated next to the River Rib in Thundridge surrounded by sheep, this ruined church tower and graves lay positioned amongst the trees, I could only imagine what its like in snowfall probably very beautiful. Most people call it Cold Christmas Church especially the locals, it is grade II listed and currently the home to many local youths at night aswel as all those weird ghostbuster style people hoping to catch or see something, well along those lines anyway. At the time Thundridge was one of the oldest churces in this part of England
Cold Christmas Church dates back to 1086 and was built in the grounds of the estate which was owned by Hugh De Desmaisnil. The church was built and intended for private family use only. The church was eventually demolished in 1853 leaving only the 15th century tower, The church was said to have been built on the wrong alignment which was North to South instead of East to West like many other churches. Many medieval churches were built in this way and later in time people believed that this was the sign of the devil :icon_evil superstition at its best here folks.
The new church was dedicated to Saint Mary and All Saints. It was paid for by a Mr Hanbury in 1858 and cost £9,000.
Along with the tower the graves have remained they have not been looked after over the years, many headstones smashed, spray painted and completely gone from the area, along with the high grass and bushes coating many of them, It has been said that there is a Mausoleum in the graveyard and mass burial graves lie under where the old church once stood, this certainly is interesting and maybe one day someone will find out if its true or not?
It is believed that the graves which lie in the abandoned graveyard belong mainly to young children, I did notice the occurrence of womens names among the graves aswel, I did not see any mens names, It is said that one very cold Christmas time, the children of the village were hit the worst by the cold weather and it lead to their deaths? yet again unknown fact for sure on this one.
The church has been well documented as being used by witches to preform certain rituals. it is also said that it has been used by devil worships and the occult. (weirdos).
I found this very interesting though in 1989 the tower was surveyed to be used as a pirate radio transmitter.
AND
of course it has had its fair share of "ghost reports"
- In 1978 a woman walking up to the church tower found herself walking towards a marching army coming from the church door and through her.
A Growl became so frequent that in January 2009 the local East Herts Herald sent a camera crew and journalist to investigate - Nothing was found but thats a few moments of fame right there.
Many locals have seen a figure in black walking around the graves - (that was me) but no evidence has been shown of this figure in black.
Anyway enough of this rambling and ghost palaver I know it was a fair share to read but it is slightly interesting the explore itself is a fun one aswel as an isolated one.
Enjoy people I think black and white shots suites this place.
IMGP7801 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7721 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7722 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7727 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7730 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7734 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7742 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7753 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7747 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7752 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7719 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7764 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7765 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7778 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7785 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7790 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
IMGP7716 by urbexmockingbird, on Flickr
Thanks as always for looking Mockingbird
This ruined church is certainly a peaceful place to be early in the morning, I was in the area and decided to track it down for a quick visit, situated next to the River Rib in Thundridge surrounded by sheep, this ruined church tower and graves lay positioned amongst the trees, I could only imagine what its like in snowfall probably very beautiful. Most people call it Cold Christmas Church especially the locals, it is grade II listed and currently the home to many local youths at night aswel as all those weird ghostbuster style people hoping to catch or see something, well along those lines anyway. At the time Thundridge was one of the oldest churces in this part of England
Cold Christmas Church dates back to 1086 and was built in the grounds of the estate which was owned by Hugh De Desmaisnil. The church was built and intended for private family use only. The church was eventually demolished in 1853 leaving only the 15th century tower, The church was said to have been built on the wrong alignment which was North to South instead of East to West like many other churches. Many medieval churches were built in this way and later in time people believed that this was the sign of the devil :icon_evil superstition at its best here folks.
The new church was dedicated to Saint Mary and All Saints. It was paid for by a Mr Hanbury in 1858 and cost £9,000.
Along with the tower the graves have remained they have not been looked after over the years, many headstones smashed, spray painted and completely gone from the area, along with the high grass and bushes coating many of them, It has been said that there is a Mausoleum in the graveyard and mass burial graves lie under where the old church once stood, this certainly is interesting and maybe one day someone will find out if its true or not?
It is believed that the graves which lie in the abandoned graveyard belong mainly to young children, I did notice the occurrence of womens names among the graves aswel, I did not see any mens names, It is said that one very cold Christmas time, the children of the village were hit the worst by the cold weather and it lead to their deaths? yet again unknown fact for sure on this one.
The church has been well documented as being used by witches to preform certain rituals. it is also said that it has been used by devil worships and the occult. (weirdos).
I found this very interesting though in 1989 the tower was surveyed to be used as a pirate radio transmitter.
AND
of course it has had its fair share of "ghost reports"
- In 1978 a woman walking up to the church tower found herself walking towards a marching army coming from the church door and through her.
A Growl became so frequent that in January 2009 the local East Herts Herald sent a camera crew and journalist to investigate - Nothing was found but thats a few moments of fame right there.
Many locals have seen a figure in black walking around the graves - (that was me)
but no evidence has been shown of this figure in black.Anyway enough of this rambling and ghost palaver I know it was a fair share to read but it is slightly interesting the explore itself is a fun one aswel as an isolated one.
Enjoy people I think black and white shots suites this place.
IMGP7801 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7721 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7722 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7727 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7730 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7734 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7742 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7753 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7747 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7752 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7719 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7764 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7765 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7778 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7785 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7790 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrIMGP7716 by urbexmockingbird, on FlickrThanks as always for looking Mockingbird
