Churches of the British Isles

The church is a long, very narrow building of local stone, rubble flint, and brick, plastered except at the eastern end. It consists only of nave, chancel, and south porch, with two bells hung in small arches in the west gable. Interesting features inside include the triple chancel arch, a thirteenth century wall painting in the splay of a small Norman window in the chancel, the ancient south door, and a curious seventeenth century alms box that has been cut out of an oak post.

All Saints Church, Little Somborne, is on the east side of Somborne Park Road, opposite the farm house of Park Farm. It existed by the late 1000s when it was recorded in Domesday Book. In terms of the surviving Saxon part of the church, much of the two-celled original structure survives in the nave and the north end of the church. In 1170 the Normans removed the original chancel and extended the church eastwards, doubling its original length and adding a tiny new chancel.

Set in peaceful surroundings, it was constructed from local flint and calcareous stone, possibly brought across from the Isle of Wight, with a wooden bell cote added on a slate roof. Evidence of both periods is clearly seen in the walls, windows, and doorways. During archaeological excavations it was found that the Saxon west end actually extended for almost two metres beyond its present footprint. Sir Thomas Sopwith, the pioneer aviator, was buried here in 1989.

St Peter's (Old) Church, Stockbridge, is on the west side of the A3057, about fifty metres south of the Winton Hill junction, east of the village. It was founded in the 1100s, but incorporated masonry from a much earlier Saxon chapel that was mentioned in Domesday Book. It acted as a chapel-of-ease for King's Somborne (see links). It was torn down in the 1870s when the new St Peter's was built, although the chancel was left standing and was restored in 1963.

All photos on this page kindly contributed by Sam Weller via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group. Additional information by Sam Weller.