VISITING WALTHAM ABBEY SUN STREET & CHURCH & GARDEN'S

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History of waltham abbey church - The Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St Lawrence has been a place of worship since the 7th century. The present building dates mainly from the early 12th century and is a fine example of Norman architecture. The church gives its name to the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex in England. Harold Godwinson is said to be buried in the present churchyard. In the late middle ages, Waltham was one of the largest church buildings in England and a major site of pilgrimage; in 1540 was the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. It is still an active parish church for the town.There have been five different styles of churches on the site of the years.The monastic buildings and those parts of the church east of the crossing were demolished at the dissolution, and the Norman crossing tower and transepts collapsed in 1553. The present-day church consists of the nave of the Norman abbey church, the 14th-century Lady Chapel and west wall, and a 16th-century west tower, added after the dissolution. Markers on the remains of the walls in the grounds indicate the location, before demolition, of the high altar, (beneath which some believe Harold Godwinson is buried), and other parts.The interior is notable for the massive Norman piers and also for the many carvings of human faces nestling in the stonework left by the original masons. Waltham Abbey is also renowned for its 15th-century Doom.In 1859 the architect William Burges was appointed to undertake a restoration of the site and a refurbishment of the interior. The restoration was extensive; the removal of pews and galleries from the South and West, a new ceiling (painted with signs of the zodiacas at Peterborough Cathedral), a new chancel and significant re-building. The designs were exhibited at the Royal Academy. Work was completed by 1876. In the view of Burges's biographer, J. Mordaunt Crook, "(Burges's interior) meets the Middle Ages as an equal." However the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner states that Burges's remodelling was carried out "with all the robust ugliness which that architect liked". The revised Pevsner of 2007 takes a somewhat more sympathetic view, describing Burges' work as "pioneering (and) powerful".The Abbey's stained glass is particularly noteworthy, including early work by Edward Burne-Jones in the rose window and lancets of the east wall, and Archibald Keightley Nicholson in the Lady Chapel. Much was destroyed during The Blitz. The Lady Chapel contains three windows by Nicholson, depicting the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Work on the 'missing' window - to depict the Epiphany - was interrupted by World War II and never resumed.Open seven days a week:
Monday, Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Sunday: 12 noon to 4 p.mThere are different services located at the church and different events


• With some remains of the Augustinian Abbey founded by King Henry II in 1177 still visible, the cloister entry, Abbey gateway, precinct and chapter house walls and the stone bridge over the Cornmill Stream provide an indication to what was once one of the largest Augustinian Abbeys in the country and the last to suffer under dissolution of the monasteries in 1540.Enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Rose Gardens or take yourself and the family on a trail to explore hundreds of years of history as you discover intriguing art works along the route which will uncover the site's invisible past.
• Open all year round and free parking and entry The park in the summer is beautiful all the flowers out there's a few things to explore lots of history the information center on weekends and hoildays has a cafe open to the public sells tea cakes ice cream etc lots of lovely walks to go the dragonfly sanctuary is a must from September the rivers are good for finishing big duck ponds great for feeding the ducks very popular with residents of Waltham abbey not too far from the main streets lovely place for a picnic great on a sunny day.And a lovely tea room called Philpott's tea rooms with great affordable prices.
• A green beam laser can be seen for miles from Royal observatory at Greenwich its green beam firing along the along the line of the prime merdian by the airy transit telescope the telescope is no longer in use it was used to observe the sun's movements to greenwich mean time.
• imagery line running from pole to pole marking zero degrees longitude passes though the town we live on the edge when vistors walk through sun street.
• every year the abbey the hosts a grand fair called town mead town mead fair in june and in November the abbey has a parade and fair where the community all come together cavalcade of lights santa himself lead the parade lots of lights souviers for sale.
• A new structure that looks like a huge pound coin located at the begainning of highbridge street its the olympic commermorative sheild to say thank you to the area's involvment in the olympic 2012 games you can wander over for a stroll to view the broze siver and gold coloured sheid the symbols on the sheid are king harold's town coat of arms elenor cross which is the statue in waltham cross 2012 olympic badge 2012 olympic nearby to lea valley centre celebrating the 2012 torch bearers who passed though the town epping forest coat of arms and henry the 8th a regular vistor of waltham abbey in the early 1500s.
• To the west of town is the River Lee (or Lea, either spelling is correct). Miles of walking and cycling tracks route through here, and it is a popular site for both anglers and bird-watchers. Wheelchair access, swims and hides are available; contact the Lee Valley Park for details as a special access key is required.
• Restaurants that i would recommed- jigsaw italian restaurent the caborona is lovely and all reasoniable priced to, parsons very pricy but delious and top market menu,le spice serves indian food, wheafshef, bakers arms,plough,the sun inn,the voulteer,buffalo bobs which is a rib shack, woodbine, junction 26 diner serves wonderful american/english dinner,phoneix serves chinese,shuhag serves indian food,murhuer serves indian,and abbey tarvana serves greek with a amazing party atomsphere with dancers and entertainment with a late night disco.
• As a community we are blessed with little cafes and tea rooms i would strongly recommend appollo cafe a family friendly run cafe with affordable prices open 7 days a week or philpott's for a tea and gorgeous homemade scones and not forgetting our famous pie and mash shop Tony's.
• we have plenty of fast food and quick bites on the go chip shops,pizza places,indian.chinese,sandwich bar, kebabs and gregs and mc donald's not forgetting the little one's.
• shops are vared i'm afraid but don't let that put you off come on a tuesday or saturday for our famous market to vistors we have stylish boutiques,hairdressers,beauty salons,little brac stores, chemists, supermarkets,pet shop and newagents - emergency medical center and dentist on hand with a chemist nearby available.
• why not pop into our wonderful pubs and unwind and have a drink watch waltham abbey life website for events.
• attractions - waltham abbey church and gardens explore its history,lee valley park farms,royal gunpowder mills,fishers green nature reserve,firehouse playcenter,lee valley white water center,lee valley camping,epping forest,copped hall,dragonfly sancturay, libery, museum.
• places to stay - marriott hotel,premiar hotel,
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interesting sculpture and art (including something that looks like a cross between a cowled monk and a totem pole), ruins of the old abbey and the grave of King Harold, although nothing was found here when it was excavated. The inscription on the gravestone reads:

This stone marks the position of the high altar behind which King Harold is said to have been buried in 1066.

Over the Cornmill Stream is 'Harold's Bridge', although being of 14th Century construction, it has more to do with the monastery than with King Harold. The only remarkable feature of the bridge is that it hasn't yet fallen down.

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