Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a red brick church rebuilt in 1873 by W G Bartleet, with additions to the north made post-1995. The building is characterised by Bath stone dressings and red clay tile roofs. A timber-clad bellcote topped with a shingled spire is also present.

The plan includes a nave, a lower chancel, a south porch, a vestry to the north, and a brick extension with a conservatory also to the north. The 1873 rebuilding incorporated features from various medieval periods, seemingly reflecting details of an earlier church. The south-east bay of the chancel and the section east of the porch feature 13th-century style lancet windows. A two-light window, likely of 14th or 15th century origin with a square head, is found in the chancel's south-west bay. Most other windows have Decorated flowing tracery typical of the early 14th century. The north-west bay of the chancel includes Tudor brickwork. A square, timber-clad bell-turret with plain, louvred single-light pointed openings stands at the west end, topped with a shingled splay-foot spire. Three dormer windows have been inserted on the north side since the building’s secular conversion.

The interior has been subdivided for residential use and the floor significantly raised, but the substantial arch braces to a tie-beam, supporting the belfry timbers (probably 15th century), remain visible at the west end. The 19th-century pulpit, a plain Gothic Revival piece with pierced tracery panels, is still in place.

The church was converted to residential use around 1995. William Gibbs Bartleet (1829-1906), the architect for the rebuild, was articled to a London architect in 1850 and later worked in Chichester before entering independent practice.

The church is designated at Grade II due to its picturesque character, despite conversion, and for the retention of medieval structural timbers at the west end.