Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church dating from the medieval period, with later additions and alterations. It is constructed primarily of flint, with ashlar and brick dressings, and has thatched and lead roofs. The church comprises a late 11th-century circular west tower, a nave with a north porch and south aisle, and a chancel aligned with the nave.

The west tower features an offset at first-floor level, a 2-light Perpendicular window on the ground floor, loops to the west and south at first floor, and a clock face to the north. It has four rustic bell openings: to the south and east, these are arched with limestone slabs applied to the central flint piers; to the west and north, they have triangular heads and mid-wall shafts with through stone slabs. The north shaft is square or rectangular, while the western shaft is bulbous, featuring a rough capital and base and exaggerated astragals. The late medieval octagonal bell stage has four 2-light traceried bell openings alternating with blind openings in flushwork, partially blocked with brickwork forming geometric patterns. The roof has a lead-covered central mast. Surviving long and short quoins are visible on the northwest angle of the nave. A single 2-light flat-headed traceried window is set into the north side of the nave. The late medieval north porch has 2-light side windows, an arched entrance, and a stepped gable. Inside the porch are C15 roll-moulded and embattled wall plates. A C14 double-ogee and wave-moulded north doorway provides access. The C15 south aisle has a moulded doorway and two 2-light traceried windows with transoms. An eastern extension to the aisle, dated 1832, includes two 3-light traceried windows with transoms, with reused Medieval windows to the south and east. The chancel has a modern 3-light east window and a 2-light uncusped window to the north.

Inside, the tower appears to be an addition to a pre-existing nave. A semicircular-headed tower arch (formerly a west door), with roughly tooled voussoirs, is visible. There is an off-centre upper doorway and no chancel arch. A four-bay arcade features, with two western bays of C14 date showing a quatrefoil pier and responds, filletted shafts, intermediate rolls, polygonal capitals and bases. The arches are of two orders with a double ogee moulding. The two eastern bays were plastered and built in 1832 by John Motteux when the aisle was extended. A piscina is located in the centre of the south wall. An 1835 cast iron altar table and strong box, designed by John Motteux, is present, featuring intricate grills reminiscent of Arabic fretwork, supported on six octagonal shafts. Openable side grills lead to an oak top bordered with brass. A C17 polygonal pulpit is set into a blocked C15 priest’s door with cusped spandrels, and features a carved frieze and bracketted lectern. Choir stalls include a reused C17 lectern. Medieval graffiti is visible on the western arcade respond. Two wall tablets are set in the chancel, commemorating John Motteux (died 1793) and John Motteux (died 1843), each set beneath crocketted ogee arches with carved head stops and fleurons.