St Mary the Virgin - Stompting
St Mary's stands on a rural lane north of the urban area that now surrounds the village, and retains much of its11th- and 12th-century structure. Its most important architectural feature is the Saxon tower topped by a Rhenish helm, a four-sided pyramid-style gabled cap of which this is the only example in England. The church is a flint building with dressings of Caen stone and a slate roof. The tower, at the west end, incorporates some reused Roman-era brickwork, and was built in two parts; it assumed its current appearance by the end of the 11th century.The "elegant"structure has stone pilasters at each corner, but lacks buttresses. The tower arch dates from the Saxon period and is offset; an altar would originally have stood next to it. The base of the tower may have served as the original entrance porch. Post Code: BN15 0AZ
