St Nicholas

The church, and the castle from which the village takes its name, were built within 50 years of each other by the powerful de Vere family in the late 11th and early 12th centuries.

From the outside the chancel is clearly Norman, while the nave appears later and the tower and south porch, of red brick, are 16th century. Inside, the church reveals itself to be predominantly Norman, with piers leading to a chancel arch that has a pointed apex, showing that is was built on the cusp of the Gothic period.

Beyond the chancel arch is the rare Norman wheel window at the east end. Even the great south door is Norman, as are two other doors in the church.

The chancel screen is from the early 15th century, and the superb double hammer beam roof dates from about 1535.

In the churchyard is a Norman cross that was removed from the churchyard at the Reformation and used as a pillar in the cellar of a local pub until it was put back in 1921 to become a war memorial.