Layer Marney Tower is a crumbling old relic of a building about 10 miles north of Maldon in Essex, England. It looks a bit like this:
Layer Marney Tower

Layer Marney was built by Henry, the first Lord Marney, in the 1500’s. He died in 1523, and he has a handsome looking tomb:
Henry First Lord Marney

The tomb is situated inside the Church of St. Mary the Virgin - seen here from the top of one of the 80ft towers:
Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Layer Marney, Essex, England.

Of course, churches also provide some other great photo opportunities. Here’s an underside view of the bell pulling rope as it goes up into the bell tower:
Bell Rope in Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Layer Marney, Essex, England.


As ever, with churches this old, there were also some nice stained glass windows. Here’s one dedicated to a family of Layer Marney from years gone by:
Stained Glass Window, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Layer Marney, Essex, England.

Churches also have their fair share of strange carvings as well. This is the lectern. It seems to have a Comic American Eagle carved on it? :) :
Church lectern, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Layer Marney, Essex, England.

And like many a old rambling ruined castle/tower in England, Layer Marney also had it’s own fair share of “Old Deers”…..
Stags head, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

And this old dear was also spotted posing for the camera! :) :
Me posing like an old dear, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

Apart from the tower buildings and the church, Layer Marney has some nice outside views as well. It even labels them for you!:
Tagged Tree, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

Another view from the top of Layer Marney Tower looks like this - overlooking the green maze and gardens:
Green maze and gardens, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

What I like about places like Layer Marney is that these early architects didn’t really care about what people would think about their gateposts etc in the future. What do you think about this one, eh? :
Gatepost, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

If their ever was any great religious events over the years at Layer Marney Tower, I don’t really know. But, it did have it’s own burning bush!:
Burning bush, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

Layer Marney Tower is a very photogenic place. Inside the main tower building, (where they were trying to flog bottles of locally made non-alcoholic wine…… as one tourist remarked - “Non-alcoholic wine? That’s like having decaffeinated coffee?!” :) ), in the foyer there was this spectacular looking bronze statue keeping guard at the door:
Puma statue, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England.

We throughly enjoyed out day out at Layer Marney Tower, ad would definitively recommend it. There even is a nice “petting field” of sorts for the kiddies, as long as you can get past “The Management” :) :
The Management, Layer Marney Tower, Essex, England

I hope you enjoy your day at Layer Marney Tower, I know we did :)