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The tiny
Saxon church at Escomb is one of the earliest surviving churches
in Britain.
It was
built in the 7th century, mainly from Roman stones taken from
the nearby abandoned Roman fort of Binchester. The stones
were arranged Saxon fashion in long-and-short work.
Various
architectural features and the general shape of the church
indicate that it was probably was constructed between AD 670
and AD 690.
The sloping
walls and circular, or 'Celtic', churchyard are evidence of
an early Irish influence.The exterior of the church is sombre
and severe. The double-cell chapel has no tower and the south
porch was added at a later date.
Beside
the porch is a rare Saxon sundial. This is capped by carvings
of snakes and the stone has three marks indicating the time
of services. An 18th century sundial can be seen in the porch.
The south
wall has windows in Saxon, Norman and Gothic styles. Escomb's
interior is dominated by the chancel arch which is believed
to have been reassembled from a Roman archway. The arch retains
traces of medieval wall painting and its supports display
the distinctive 'Escomb Style' of long-and-short stonework.
Some cobbled flooring in the nave could be Saxon. A large
number of ancient crosses are set against the walls and in
the porch.
The splayed
windows were designed to let in the maximum amount of light
whilst keeping out most of the wind and rain.
The
roof beams date from 1450 - 1470.
Escomb,
set at the foot of a hill, is now encircled by indifferent
council houses.
The churchyard
was once overgrown and provided a barrier between the church
and its surroundings but today it is carefully mown and maintained.
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