STAINED GLASS

The origins of stained glass windows probably came from jewelry making, and mosaics, when substantial church building began. Around the 11th century, decorative designs depicting Christ and biblical scenes were starting to be found in French, German and English churches. Glass is an unusual material; it is basically sand transformed by fire. Glass is given colour by adding metallic salts and oxides during its manufacture. These minerals within the glass capture specific portions from the spectrum of white light allowing the human eye to see various colours, it seems to capture light and glow from within, like a jewel. Gold produces stunning cranberry, cobalt makes blues; silver creates yellows, while copper makes greens and reds. In Norfolk we have the highest concentration of medieval churches in the world, and therefore it makes a great place to see some fine examples of medieval church stained glass windows.