Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an 11th-century flint rubble building, with later additions and restoration. It comprises a west tower, a nave with north and south aisles, and a chancel. The west tower is Norman, featuring bell openings with colonettes. The west door's semi-circular arch is constructed entirely of Roman tiles, with a single-storey tympanum. A later embattled parapet tops the tower, which is surmounted by a slender spire, known as the Hertfordshire Spike. The nave is also Norman, but underwent considerable restoration in the late 19th century, when the north aisle and south porch were rebuilt. The south aisle dates to the 13th century, and the nave’s clerestory to the 15th century. 15th-century king posts are visible among the modern timber roof. The chancel is 13th century and contains two cusped lancet windows. There are remains of a 14th-century cycle of wall paintings depicting episodes in the life of St Margaret, the martyr of Antioch. The south arcade in the nave dates to the early 19th century, while the north arcade is from the early 14th century. Interior features include a fine 15th-century nine-sided pulpit, a 15th-century chancel screen, seven 15th-century benches, and one pew front carved with a tiger holding a paw on a mirror. The font cover dates to circa 1600, and the font to circa 1400. A brass depicting a knight from circa 1415 is also present. The church forms the focal point of a small, picturesque village group and is graded for its architectural, historical, and topographical importance.