St Leonard
Billingford, Norfolk
Visit this delightful Grade I Listed church, situated at the top of the hill overlooking the picturesque Waveney Valley where peace and tranquillity can be found in abundance.
Built from 1362 and beautified in the early next century as the de la Pole Earls, later Dukes, of Suffolk in WIngfield castle became even richer. They are the Suffolk in Shakespeare's plays. The founder, Sir John de Wingfield (d1361) has a fine tomb. His daughter and heir married Michael de la Pole, son of the fabulously wealthy mayor of Kingston upon Hull, financier to King Edward III. He became Earl of Suffolk His son Michael (d1415) married Katherine de Stafford, granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer and they have a magnificent tomb in the church. The third tomb belongs to their grandson John and his wife Elizabeth of York, sister of Kings Edward IV and Richarfd IIi whose children were thus the true Plantagenet heirs to the throne of England.
There is a display in the church of generations of Wingfield arms by our local heraldic artist, Bob Elliot. On display is also the soundboard of the famous Tudor organ from which the well known Wingfield Organ"(currently in St Andrews) was reconstructed. Other curiosities include a Tudor muniments chest and a Hudd (a Georgian shelter for a priest conducting funerals in the rain). Next door is Wingfield College, founded by Sir John de Wingfield and now a private house. The De La Pole Arms pub is immediately across the road from the church.