The story of Humphry Repton’s family links to Aylsham can be found all around Aylsham Parish Church, both indoors and out. To complete this trail you just need to follow these simple steps to hunt down the answers to the clues and solve the final puzzle:
- Look out for these RED ROSES - wherever you find them you’ll also find an answer.
- Hunt down the interesting facts and type the answer into the relevant space below.
- The highlighted letters will create a jumbled clue to the final puzzle for you to solve.
- You can answer clues in any order, and start at any number. You’ll need to explore both the church indoors and the churchyard outside.
On with the clues!
- The wooden reredos (the ornamental screen behind the altar) was designed in 1833 by John Adey Repton, Humphry Repton’s son. After leaving Aylsham Grammar School he became a successful what?
- Humphry Repton was an accomplished artist, and you can see a copy of his painting of Aylsham Market Place here. Look closely – the parish stocks where those convicted of minor offences were punished have since gone, but what is there now (a little wander into the Market Place might help)?
- One of Repton’s sons was Churchwarden here from 1809 - 1851. What was his name?
- Humphry Repton was born in Bury St Edmunds and after a failed career in the textile industry he finally became a landscape gardener. He was a wonderful artist, and his designs showed before-and-after views of his gardens presented in his famous Red… what?
- The Repton family window reminds us of the Bible passage when Jesus welcomes children and teaches us that we have to have childlike hearts to enter heaven. The window is dedicated to Repton and his wife – what was her Christian name?
- Repton’s family connections with Aylsham were made through his sister Dorothy, who married a solicitor and churchwarden of Aylsham who is remembered opposite the pulpit. His name was…?
- Humphry Repton died suddenly on 24th March 1818 and is buried in the churchyard in a beautiful memorial garden. His tombstone bears a poem which he himself wrote – who are the tyrants he speaks of?
The Last Piece of the Puzzle
The final step is to unscramble the letters you’ve found. Humphry Repton designed around 400 gardens and landscapes, but the one he described as his “most favourite work” is also the best preserved example of his designs, just 10 miles from here as the crow flies.
Its name is hidden in the anagrams below. Touch the buttons in the correct order to complete the trail!
If you have any feedback about this puzzle trail (or need an answer!) please drop a line to firstname.lastname@example.org.