Deerhurst Attractions

Near St Mary's Church, adjoining a half-timbered house, is Odda's Chapel; a stone found here bears the date 1056, making this the oldest dated chapel in England.

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.