Church Of St Laurence And All Saints

The Church of St Laurence and All Saints is a church located in Eastwood, with origins dating from the 12th to the 17th century. The earliest record of the church is from 1100, when Robert Fitz Suen donated it, along with chapels in Sutton and Prittlewell, to the Prior of Prittlewell, who maintained it until the Reformation in 1536.

The church is constructed from ragstone rubble with flint and features limestone dressings, along with some Roman brick. The west tower has a timber-framed and shingled upper section topped with a broach spire, which was restored in the 20th century. The south aisle has two plastered gables and a tiled roof. The nave, dating from the 12th century, contains remnants of Norman window openings on the north wall. The roof of the nave is from the 15th century, featuring tie beams and octagonal crown posts with curved braces. The south aisle is from the 13th century, while the north aisle dates to the 14th century. The chancel is also from the 13th century, with a roof added in the 14th century. The south porch, made of brick, is from the 16th century.

Inside, the font is Norman, featuring a circular bowl decorated with interlacing arcading. At the west end of the north aisle, there is a small and unusual 15th-century priest's room, which has two stages and includes a heavy plank and muntin screen with a narrow door, supported by heavy joists on the upper floor. The north and south doors, likely from the 12th century, are adorned with elaborate ironwork. Additionally, there is a brass memorial for Thomas Burrough, who died in 1600.