Church Of St Martin

The Church of St. Martin is a mediaeval church, largely rebuilt in the early to mid 14th century, with subsequent restorations around 1863. It comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, north and south transepts, a west tower, and a south porch. The walls are generally of rubble, mostly rendered, with flint rubble and brick detailing on the tower. The roofs are low-pitched and leaded, with some parapets, and the chancel roof is plaintiled.

Fragments of lancet windows from the 12th or early 13th century are found in the chancel; a 12th-century priests door is reportedly buried in the south wall. The tower, dating from around 1300, incorporates a lintel, possibly a Norman consecration cross, as a doorway feature. Original 2-light belfry openings were altered in the late 14th century with the addition of a top stage, a west doorway, and a 3-light window, accompanied by clasping buttresses. An 18th-century timber bell turret with a cupola roof was also added.

The chancel windows include fragments of around 1300, excluding the 19th-century triple-lancet east window. Aisle and transept windows are mid-14th century, with 2 and 3 lights, and the transept end windows have 4 lights with net tracery, all heavily restored around 1863. A 15th-century doorway was inserted into the south chancel wall, while the north doorway is a 19th-century replacement in the 15th-century style. The south porch with parvise, and the south doorway were added mid-14th century, and heavily restored in the 19th century; a quoins stone bears the scratch-date 1673. The nave arcades feature octagonal piers with moulded capitals and bases, alongside a simply chamfered tower arch and chancel arch.

The chancel contains a late 13th-century double piscina. In the south transept, there's an aumbry, a piscina with dog-tooth ornament (likely late 13th century), and a rare, damaged late 14th-century double heart shrine consisting of two cusped arches with quatrefoil under an ogee arched head, displaying two hands holding a heart. The north transept contains an image niche, possibly from the 14th century, and a rood-loft stairway. A 15th-century image niche with a traceried panel is located beside the north doorway. A 14th-century octagonal limestone font is also present.

The roofs are plastered, with all, except the chancel, likely rebuilt around 1821. The chancel retains 17th-century altar rails. An early 18th-century pulpit, complete with a back and sounding-board, is also present. The nave houses a set of 15 16th-century pews with linenfold ends, while the aisles feature 13 plain, heavily restored pews. A fine 15th-century stallfront with tracery and poppyhead ends can be found in the north transept, and a 13th-century marble coffin lid is embedded in the south transept floor. The chancel contains a simple 15th-century altar tomb, now lacking brasses. Memorial tablets are located in the chancel to Robt. Peachey, Vicar, died 1702, and to John Huske, died 1713. A painted hatchment commemorating Francis Robertson resides in the north transept. Arms of George II are displayed in the south aisle, and the arms of George III, dated 1817, are on the gallery.