Our first task when we got to the church, was to search for dates - how far back could we go? Amazingly, the earliest dates were in the 1200s then many more followed in the 1400s. We asked our guide, Mrs Dolling, to tell us more. Did she know anything about the significance of the lamb on the village sign and our school logo? It turns out there was an important connection with the church and the family of Robert 'de Herling and his daughter Anne, who was Lady of the manors in East Harling, owned lots of land, farming sheep, married three times to rich and important men who died in battle as knights to the King, leaving her with the wealth from sheep fleeces (a very valuable commodity during the medieval ages in the Norfolk textile industry era) As Anne had no children, she gave much of her wealth to rebuild and extend the church, and to set up Education and priesthood colleges in the area. She was the benefactor of poor children, providing education in the village and surrounding area!Wow! What a great connection to our enquiry about the Harling Lamb! She had also been significant in securing the Fair Charter from the King in 1474 enabling Harling to hold weekly markets and twice yearly Sheep Sales!
Lady Anne and her husbands are buried in the church in elaborate tombs. The Lady Anne Chapel within the church was used as a school in the late 1600s.
Two of her husbands are depicted on either side of the great East window.
We had discovered a major clue to answer our history enquiry question!
Now to see how the sheeps' fleece were so important ....
