Escomb: Saxon Church

Name:
Escomb: Saxon Church
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
613192
Diocese:
Durham
Archdeaconry:
Auckland
Parish:
Escomb and Witton Park

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade I Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Early Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

Escomb Saxon Church is one of the best preserved Anglo-Saxon buildings in England. The materials are mainly Roman, taken from the nearby Binchester (Vinovia) Roman Fort. On the north wall a stone marked with the Latin shorthand LEG VI (Sixth Legion) can be seen, installed upside down (deliberately or otherwise). The stone has been chiselled down, but there is evidence that internally the original church was plastered and would have been white, bright and light. Evidence has also been found of very high quality stone carvings. It was originally thought that the original church was an offshoot of one of the local monasteries, but this is just one of several possibilities as there are no known records written until 990AD. The church is set in an unusual circular churchuard at the heart of its village.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Summer visitor opening times: 9.00am-8.00pm Winter visitor opening times: 9.00am-4.00pm Visitors can collect keys from a nearby house if the church is not open. During the summer guides welcome visitors.
 

Church Website

Church Website:
http://escombsaxonchurch.co.uk/

Sources and Further Information

Andrew Curtis (geograph.org) (February 2010) Exterior image of 613192 Escomb Saxon Church [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 613192 Escomb Saxon Church
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13560/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~132414~119019 [Archive/Graphic material]

Groundplan

ICBS File Number - 08474

Coverage - 1879-1880

Created by ?AUSTIN (THOMAS), JOHNSON (R. J.) & HICKS (WILLIAM)

Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell