Church Of St Lawrence

The Church of St. Lawrence is a parish church with origins in the 12th century, a north aisle added in the 13th century, and a significant restoration in 1866 by J. Messenger. It is constructed of flint with some rubble stone, featuring a plain tiled roof, with the north aisle roof slated. The church comprises a chancel, a nave with a north aisle, a south chapel, a western tower, and a south porch.

The two-stage tower has original north, east, and south walls from the 12th century, with the west front and first floor rebuilt in 1866. It is topped by a tiled, broach spire. The windows are largely lancet style from the 19th century, with the exception of those on the north chancel wall and the north nave aisle, and the east windows of the latter having moulded hood surrounds on a string course. The south porch has been restored with a chamfered doorway, and a blocked north doorway remains.

Inside, the tower features a 12th-century semi-circular arch, double rebated on barely moulded abaci. The nave has a two-bay arcade to the north aisle, comprising double chamfered arches on a round pier and responds with simple octagonal capitals and bases. A plain semi-circular headed arch leads to the south chapel, which contains a vestry. The north aisle has north lancets with undercut and moulded hood surrounds, and the triple east window has attached columns, double keeled moulded surrounds, and a hood mould. The original roof has three king posts. The chancel retains a blocked two-bay south arcade, dating from the 12th century, which originally led to the south chapel, displaying lipped arches on a round pier and responds with scalloped capitals. A 19th-century trussed rafter roof tops the chancel.

Notable fittings include a small, mutilated piscina in the nave and a restored arcaded font bowl on a 19th-century five-stem base. Original floor surfaces of marble slabs and pantiles are preserved across extensive areas. A medieval tomb chest with a Calvary cross and Bottonee, is set into the floor by the south tower respond. A wall monument commemorates Will Hanington, who died in 1607, and is constructed from partially painted marble and alabaster, depicting him and his wife facing each other over a prayer desk, with their children displayed behind them. A base with winged cherubs and an inscription apron is included, featuring three coats of arms with ribband enrichment. The monument to Peter Nepieu, Gent, who died in 1658, erected in 1735 by Sir Henry Cheere, is a standing wall monument, featuring a portrait bust of Peter in 17th-century dress, an obelisk-shaped background, a gadrooned casket on lion’s feet, and a base with acanthus moulding bearing an inscription flanked by recessed panels with crossed bones and ribbons. A coat of arms of Queen Anne is displayed in the north aisle.