Crowland

We went to Crowland because the guide book spoke highly of its Trinity Bridge, a three-way bridge in the heart of the little town which is indeed worth the small detour to the town. Built where the stream that ran through the centre of town divided, the bridge has three arches, three exits and three spans.

Towering over the town was the spire of a church and, on the principle of never missing a church, we headed for it, to be rewarded by the ruins of a substantial abbey which holds England's oldest ring of bells and its longest bell ropes. The church is merely the north aisle of the abbey church, which must have been awe-inspiringly massive!

High on the west front of the abbey ruins is a figure holding a whip or scourge and standing smugly on a rather resigned-looking demon. Unfortunately, as the story we found shows, the demons had the last laugh because the celebrated austerities of St Guthlac led to his early demise - which should be a lesson to us all!