Brooke (Norfolk) - Church of St Peter

St Peter’s Church is about 800 years old and has a round tower topped by a lovely golden weather vane. The flint tower houses six bells which are rung regularly. On entering the porch there is a little statue to St Peter and inside is a carved wooden figure from Oberammergau. The use of this emblem is to be found on the altar linen and many of the hassocks.

There is a wall plaque, near the church, to one of England’s greatest surgeons, Sir Astley Cooper, who was born at Brooke Hall, son of the local vicar. He was surgeon to several sovereigns including Queen Victoria and is buried in the chapel at Guy’s Hospital.

A walk in the churchyard has many interesting gravestones, one to Robert Pearce who fought with the 7^th Hussars at Waterloo and a stranger who met with such kindness in the village that he asked to be buried here.