SS PETER AND PAUL CHURCH - GRISTON

In Domesday Book this manor was written "Greston", which literally meant "Grass-town", at that time probably having considerably more meadowland than at present. The amount of farmland or meadowland available in the village was much reduced during the Second World War when the village, (which can be found three miles southeast of Watton and eight miles northwest from Attleborough), was reduced to half of its original size; much of it having been taken to construct the airfield for RAF Watton. There were at least ten farms in the village prior to this; now only four remain.

Early History

The original church, mentioned in Domesday, stood on the site of the present one and was dedicated to St. Margaret. There were four guilds, one each to SS John, Margaret, Mary and Peter and there was also a light in the churchyard called "St. Mary's Light". The first recorded vicar was Andrew de Fordham in 1213, during the reign of King John. The steeple as it now stands was rebuilt in 1477, along with a great part of the church. The church is built of flint and freestone in the Perpendicular and Decorated style and is composed of nave, chancel, north porch and a tall, rectangular western embattled tower of good proportions. William Ferror was a benefactor to the church in 1492.

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