St Mary the Virgin
Maldon, Essex
Looking out over the River Blackwater, St Mary's is a very attractive church in an attractive setting, and is Maldon's most distinctive landmark.
It dates from the 13th century, and owes its shape to the fact that it had to fit between the nave (replaced in 1728 with the present one) and a fish market. Flintbuilt, and with a shingled spire and three shingled spirelets, it is a striking sight.
Inside, the south aisle is quite unexpected and extraordinarily rich in decorative stonework from about 1340.
Rows of little ogee headed arches form an arcade lining the south and west the walls, while above the framing of the windows is decorated with trailing tendrils of stone roses.