Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a parish church begun before 1379, when a bequest was made for its rebuilding. It is constructed primarily of flint, with ashlar and brick dressings. The church comprises a west tower flanked by aisles, an aisled nave with a south porch, and a chancel with a rib-vaulted crypt beneath the eastern part, along with a modern vestry to the north. The lower stages of the tower have western angle buttresses that have been infilled with diagonal sections of walling, creating space for a stair to the south. An elaborate plinth features flushwork and blind quatrefoils, also covering the western ends of the aisles. A moulded two-centred west doorway leads to a three-light traceried window above, which has an embattled transom. The upper two stages of the tower, likely dating to the 15th century, feature diagonal buttresses, sound holes with reticulated tracery, and large four-light bell openings with Perpendicular tracery. A crenellated parapet with flushwork tops the tower. Eight tall early Perpendicular three-light aisle windows are present, distinguished by their flat heads beneath relieving arches, embattled transoms, panel traceried heads, quatrefoil spandrels, and elaborate cusping. The west aisle windows share a similar style with arched heads. The east aisle windows, of four lights, show a design closely related to the choir clearstorey windows of Norwich Cathedral (circa 1370). Six three-light plainly traceried chancel windows are present, along with a five-light east window. A priest’s doorway is located on the south side. There are eight quatrefoil clerestory windows and a three-light traceried window in the eastern nave gable. Moulded north and south doorways include floral carvings. The south porch, dating to the 15th century, retains its original roof timbers.

Inside, three deeply moulded tower arches rest on semicircular responds. A contemporary chancel arch is also present. A four-bay arcade is supported on slender piers with opposing semicircular responds along the east/west axis, and with an uninterrupted continuation of arch mouldings on the north and south sides. The nave has an arch-braced roof with a moulded wall plate and alternating wall posts. The chancel roof is hammer-beam and restored. Arch-braced aisle roofs were originally double-pitched, but now lean-to after the replacement of common rafters. Rustic, likely post-Medieval, seating with shaped bench ends is found throughout. A plain octagonal font is also present.