The Wig Protector, Church of St. Augustine, Brookland, Kent

It was not mice but the elements that troubled the parson of St. Augustine near Romney Marsh, Kent. In the 1700s the question arose of how to keep his wig dry when performing burials out on the marsh. The hairy problem was passed to the local carpenter who came up with a wooden “Hudd” which shielded the parson from sudden downpours. Happily the rare shelter survived the years and now stands in St. Augustine’s nave. A unique feature of the church is its octagonal wooden bell tower dating originally from the 11th century. Designed almost in Christmas tree fashion, it stands entirely separate from the main body of the church as it was feared its weight and that of its bells could not be supported by the surrounding marsh.