Deerhurst - St Mary's Church

One of the best preserved Saxon churches in the country, St Mary's Church originally belonged to a monastery which is first recorded in 804. The chancel is entirely Saxon: the aisles, arches, roof and clerestory are Norman. The lower half of the tower is Saxon with later long-and-short work; in the east wall is a two-light triangular-headed window. The cylindrical font, with spiral ornament, is also Saxon, dating from the eighth or ninth century.