Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade II* listed building located on the west side of Essendon High Road. The church features a 15th-century west tower that has been restored. The nave and aisles were rebuilt in 1883 by W. White, while the eastern end was reconstructed in 1917 by C. J. Blomfield. The exterior is faced with flint and includes stone dressings, with a distinctive chequer pattern between the window heads and on the gables. The four-stage west tower was rebuilt at the top in the 17th century, during which two-light windows with Tudor hoods were added. Above the west door, there are three-light windows styled in the 15th century. The tower also features slit windows at the southwest angle and is topped with a Hertfordshire spike and a wrought iron weathervane. The nave and two aisles are of equal height, and there are gabled porches on the north and south sides. The windows display 14th-century style tracery.

Inside, the church contains a font in the south aisle of the nave made of Wedgwood's Black Basalt ware, featuring a bowl with drapery decoration that stands on a fluted wooden pier. On the south wall, there is a brass memorial to W. Tooke from 1588, along with an alabaster wall monument to W. Prestley, who died in 1664, characterized by spiral columns and an oval plaque surrounded by leaf carving. Additionally, there is a late 19th-century marble monument depicting two sleeping children in the north chancel aisle, created by W. Theed. The church holds significant group and landmark value.