Church Of St Mary Magdalen

The Church of St Mary Magdalen is a building of group value, dating back to the early 13th century, with significant rebuilds and alterations over the subsequent centuries. The original core consists of the chancel and side chapels, while the nave was rebuilt in the 15th century, alongside the aisles and tower. A major restoration occurred in 1868-9, led by AW Blomfield. The church is constructed from flint, brick, and limestone rubble, with limestone dressings, some areas being rendered. Ragstone ashlar is used for the tower, all set beneath a tiled roof.

The architectural style is primarily Decorated Gothic for the chancel and chapels, transitioning to Perpendicular Gothic for the nave and tower. The east gable, largely rebuilt in the mid-19th century, features buttresses and a five-light window with Decorated tracery. A low, ogee-arched window from the mid-14th century is partially obscured on the south side by the chapel's east gable. The north chapel has a steep east gable with a three-light Perpendicular window. A late-19th century single-story crenellated vestry adjoins the north side. The nave and aisle have a cornice and crenellated parapet, with a shallow north gable rising above the chancel. The tower is two-stage with angle buttresses, string courses, crenellated parapet, and regular putlog holes. It has a west doorway, a small niche above it, and windows in the belfry. A round stair tower with a conical roof, finial, and a doorway at the base sits on the southeast corner. The interior features a 12th-century two-bay arcade between the chancel and chapels, characterized by scallop and leaf capitals, and keeled roll arches to the west. Fine Decorated Gothic sedilia with three cinquefoil ogee arches are also present, complemented by stiff leaf capitals. A Perpendicular oak screen with brattishing and open tracery separates spaces. The 15th-century four-bay nave arcade has round shafts, octagonal capitals, and arched braces on corbels. The tower is vaulted with tierceron ribs on corner shafts. Fittings include a 17th-century three-sided gallery with turned balusters and a 11th-century Norman font with a 16-arch arcade, zig zag moulding, and shafts. Stained glass in the east window was created by Holiday for Heaton, Butler and Bayne. Numerous wall memorials are also present.