Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade II* listed flint church that was almost completely rebuilt in 1869-70 by architect W. E. Nesfield, who reused old materials in the reconstruction. He retained the lower stage of the impressive 14th-century south porch and the north arcade of the nave, which dates to around 1340. Nesfield added a gabled framed upper storey to the south porch, which features massive timbers and an outer archway with a pointed head formed by two carved and enriched curved brackets. The side walls of the porch have three cinquefoil ogee lights with carving and tracery on the spandrels. The nave roof is from the 14th century, characterized by tie beams, curved braces with traceried spandrels, and octagonal crown posts with capitals and four-way braces. In 1887, Temple Moore added the west tower, which includes a castellated parapet, angle buttresses, a staircase turret, and a small spire. The church serves as an important focal point in the village center, and its reconstruction, along with several surrounding buildings, is a significant work by W. E. Nesfield. It is listed for its historical and topographical value.