Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church dating back to around 1200, with significant portions from the 14th and 15th centuries, and a substantial restoration in 1873 by Sir A. Blomfield. It is constructed primarily of coursed limestone rubble and ashlar, with some ironstone, and has lead roofs. The church comprises a west tower with a spire, a nave with aisles, a south porch, a chancel, and a north vestry.

The two-stage west tower has a plinth course and set-back buttresses with set-offs. The bell stage features two-light Decorated windows (the one on the south side was lengthened during a later alteration), a frieze with ballflower and head carvings, and angle gargoyles. It has a castellated parapet. A clock is situated above a small square window with leaded glazing on the south side, while the west side features a 19th-century door. The spire is of 19th-century construction, featuring two tiers of lucarnes. The nave, aisles, and chancel have plain parapets. The south side incorporates a 19th-century porch, framing a roll-moulded round entrance arch of two orders supported on plain columns with bell capitals. A 19th-century door provides access. The aisle displays a string course, two 2-light Perpendicular windows separated by a buttress, and a small “low side” window with two lights. Three 2-light Perpendicular clerestory windows are also present. The east end of the south aisle has a 3-light Perpendicular window and three damaged 19th-century commemorative tablets. A large 5-light Decorated style window was added in the 19th century to the east end. A 19th-century north-east vestry is also present. The north aisle, from east to west, includes a 2-light Perpendicular window, a 2-light square-headed window with ogee lights, and a blocked pointed-arched doorway. The west end of the north aisle has a 2-light Perpendicular style window set above a blocked round-headed arch; a straight joint marks the point where the round arch intersects the wall. The west end of the south aisle displays a similar feature, though the remains of the arch are more fragmentary and blend into a straight joint.

Inside, a three-bay Perpendicular nave arcade is formed by quatrefoil piers. The clerestory windows extend down to a string course as recessed panels. The Decorated tower arch is of three chamfered orders. The nave roof features arch bracing from cables to a slightly cambered tie beam, with chamfered purlins, a ridge piece, and rafters. The south aisle roof is strutted off cambered tie beams. The north aisle roof is a 19th-century replacement. The chancel arch is similar to those of the nave arcade. The chancel interior largely dates from Blomfield's 1873 restoration, but retains a lancet window within a deep splayed opening on the north side, now leading into the vestry. The north aisle contains several notable monuments: to Sir Edward Montague (died 1557), featuring a tomb chest with a recumbent figure; to another Sir Edward Montagu (died 1602), an elaborate canopied monument with two recumbent effigies; and an architectural tablet to a third Sir Edward Montagu (died 1644). A fragment of Norman carved stonework is set into the wall above an aumbry. Various 19th-century furnishings, a font, and stained glass are also present, notably an east window commemorating Reverend John Lucas Sutton (died 1871) and his family.