6. Corhampton Church

Corhampton, SU 6100 2032

This Saxon church, built in the first quarter of the 11th century, retains more original features than any other contemporary church in Hampshire. These features include the thin walls, the tall narrow chancel arch, long-and-short stonework at the exterior corners, the narrow pilaster strips or lesenses and the altar stone on the north side of the sanctuary. The east end of the Saxon church collapsed in 1842, and was rebuilt in brick, on the same foundations.

Although most of the windows appear to be of later 13th century date, two original Saxon windows can be seen in the west wall. Immediately to the right of the porch is a Saxon sundial.

Inside is a fine Saxon chancel arch, with traces of medieval wall paintings which were uncovered in 1968. Those in the chancel include an image of St Swithun.

Under the yew tree in the churchyard (which is thought to be as old as the church) are fragments of a Roman stone sarcophagus.

The Walk

Corhampton to St. Andrew's Meonstoke
0.3 miles/0.4 km

From the church turn left along the A32 and cross over to Allens Lane. At the end of a row of houses take the narrow tarmac path on the right leading to St Andrew's Church.