URPoint Details
The Paston family owned several properties in Norfolk, the chief being Oxnead. Alliance by marriage was a major pre-occupation because of the property involved. Sir Thomas Brews and his wife Dame Elizabeth had a daughter Margery. She met John III and wanted to marry him, but the respective had a hard time negotiating financial terms. Marjery wrote to John telling him ‘But if you love me, as I hope that indeed you do, you will not leave me because of it if you do not have half the estates you have, I would not forsake you, even if I had to work as hard as any woman alive….No more for now, but the Holy Trinity have you in keeping. Please do not let any creature on earth see this note but only you. And this letter was written Topcroft with a very sad heart. By your own M B’ All went well it seems as Marjery and John were married in the summer of 1477.
The church is situated on one of the highest points in the south of the county, and the top of the tower has been used by the Ordnance Survey as a chief observation point.
The round tower of St Margaret’s is Saxon and has later additions to the 15th century.
- Type:
- Landmark