Lamas, Norfolk

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Lamas (also spelled Lammas) is a small village in North Norfolk. Separated by the River Bure from the larger village of Buxton, it gives the impression of being a sleepy, rural place. Today it has no pubs or shops, being served by Buxton. The village Church is dedicated to St. Andrew. Much restored in the 19th century it nevertheless still displays some traces of Anglo-Saxon work in the walls of the nave. The chancel slants away from the nave, probably due to the marshy nature of the riverside site. Inside there is a finely-painted organ decorated with images of St. George and St. Michael. Two RAF standards hang in the chancel. The author Anna Sewell is buried in the graveyard of the old Quaker Meeting-House on The Street. The Meeting-house itself has now been converted into a holiday cottage, but Anna Sewell's gravestone is now placed in a wall fronting the Street. Lamas has been united to the neighbouring hamlet of Little Hautbois since the 15th century. In the 19th century it had a small Baptist Chapel, but this has long since vanished.

One of the former Rectors of the Parish is named simply as 'Roger' on the board in the Church. Local legend says this is because he murdered a man shortly after he had been inducted to the benefice and fled. It is said that the man's body still lies under the Church porch.

Source: The author is a long-term resident of Lamas.