Church Of St Nicholas

The Church of St Nicholas is a parish church largely dating to the 16th century, with a 13th-century core and 19th and early 20th-century restoration. It is constructed of flint with stone dressings and brick repairs, much of which is rendered and has an old plain tile roof. The church is laid out with a nave and a chancel set off-centre to the south, with a continuous south wall. A small organ chamber projects from the northeast. A bellcote sits at the west end.

The east end of the chancel features a plinth, 18th-century diagonal-set brick buttresses, and a 16th-century square-headed three-light cinquefoiled window. A door to the organ chamber is on the northeast, and to the west of the centre is a reset 13th-century two-centred two-order doorway, above a 16th-century square-headed two-light cinquefoiled window. A 18th-century buttress at the southeast of the nave incorporates two 17th-century headstones. A gabled timber porch, on a brick plinth, stands in the centre, leading to a 15th-century two-centred door with two continuously moulded orders. Square-headed two-light cinquefoiled windows are found on each side, along with a buttress to the east and west ends. A 13th-century two-centred doorway is blocked with brick on the north wall of the nave, and the west end has a 15th-century two-light window, backed by tall buttresses. A square, weatherboarded bellcote tops the west end, with three louvred openings on each face and a flat roof.

Inside the chancel, the rear arches are slightly hollow-chamfered. An image corbel is set into the southeast wall. A medieval altar stone stands on 20th-century stone columns, accompanied by a small continental reredos also from the 20th century. Reset 17th-century altar rails with turned balusters and moulded rails are also present. Italian stalls, seven on each side, have been installed on the north and south walls, with fluted Doric pilasters and a frieze of cherub heads. Copies of the altar rails are in front of them. A reading desk incorporating parts of a 15th-century screen is in the southwest corner. The church features a king post roof. The 16th-century chancel arch is of two continuously moulded orders of ogee and hollow chamfer. A narrow trefoiled niche is set into the north respond, and a larger similar niche is located on the east nave wall, suggesting a possible additional altar due to the unusual plan. Windows, excluding the west window, have moulded four-centre rear arches on shafts. A 17th-century pulpit with a tester, finials, and hanging arches is located in the southeast corner. Two large posts support the bellcote in the west bay. A 13th-century Purbeck font with blind arcading is centrally situated, standing on a large column with a moulded base. 16th-century pews line the sides, with the remainder dating to the 19th century. Floor slabs are dated 1707 and 1787, commemorating John Smith and Henry King respectively. A memorial of 1630 is on the north wall, dedicated to Sir John Thornburgh, while a monument of 1827 is on the west wall, commemorating Henry King. The roof is plastered with 16th and 17th-century tiebeams. The church also houses 16th and 17th-century bells.