Gateley
| Gateley | |
|---|---|
 St Helen, Gateley |
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 Gateley
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| Gateley shown within Norfolk | |
| Area | 6.14 km2 (2.37 sq mi) |
| Population | 65 |
| • Density | 11/km2 (28/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TF959243 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DEREHAM |
| Postcode district | NR20 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Gateley is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England.
The village is situated some 16.9 km (10.5 mi) north-east of the town of Swaffham, 8.7 km (5.4 mi) north of the town of Dereham and 22.7 km (14.1 mi) north-west of the city of Norwich. The parish of Gateley is within the Breckland district of Norfolk. The parish lies south-east of the parish of Great Ryburgh and north-west of the parish of North Elmham. The river Wensum runs across the north-east of the parish. Nearby villages include Colkirk and Horningtoft.
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The parish name is old English and translates as 'clearing where goats are kept'. This place name and documentary evidence suggests the settlement has been in existence since at least the Late Saxon period.
The parish church of Gateley is called St Helen's. The nave is dates from the 15th century. The chancel a Victorian rebuilding. The church tower is of the Perpendicular style. There are two shields on south-west buttress. Tower has rectangular vice, the belfry windows have been partly blocked. On south side of the nave is a round headed arch made up of late medieval tiles although the doorway is of late Saxon origins. The south porch has three niches. The church floor has been renewed but is of brick. The primitive font has a marble plinth . There is a rood screen with fine paintings thought to be East Anglia, which are of a local flavour. The Saints chosen for the screen are for local devotions. From left to right they are Saint Etheldreda, foundress of the Diocese of Ely shown as a nun with a Latin inscription, Scta Adria, or Saint Audrey. Next is Saint Elizabeth, also shown dressed in a nun's habit and her arms crossed as if in an echo of the Visitation, The Blessed Virgin, turned to face her cousin. A third image is of the Mistress of Ridibowne, a local devotion. Virtually nothing is known about her. Ridibowne was probably either Redbowne in Lincolnshire or Redbowne in Hertfordshire. On the other side of the screen are paintings of Saint Louis of France, Henry VI labelled in Latin as 'the Blessed Martyr Henry VI', St Augustine and Sir John Schorne, conjuring the devil into a boot. Sir John Schorne was a clergyman, he is said to be best known for his ability to cure the gout.
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Wikipedia