All Saints Church, Little Somborne

All Saints has its origin in the Anglo-Saxon era, and it is recorded in the Domesday book. The original church had a nave and a chancel, but in 1170 the chancel was removed, the nave was extended towards the east, and a very small chancel was added at the east end.[2] The chancel was removed during the 17th century, the chancel arch was filled in with a wall and a window was inserted.[1]

The church is constructed in flint rubble with stone dressings. The walls have been rendered and colourwashed. The roof is tiled.[1] Its plan is simple, consisting of a nave and a chancel in a single range, with a weatherboarded bellcote at the west end. At the east end, within the former chancel arch, is a three-light square-headed window, and above this are two lancet windows. In the north wall of the chancel is a 12th-century single-light window. To the west of this is a blocked door dating from the same period. Also in the north wall is a Anglo-Saxon pilaster strip made in Binstead stone from the Isle of Wight. In the south wall of the chancel is a 13th-century lancet window. To the west of this are two single-light square-headed windows. Between these is a Norman round-headed doorway. The west window dates from the 14th century and has two lights with trefoil heads, and there is a quatrefoil window above it.[4]

The plaster has been stripped from the interior of the walls, and the floor has been partly removed and replaced by flags. To the south of the chancel arch is a small round-headed niche. The font dates from the 19th century.[1]

In the churchyard is the grave of Thomas Sopwith, the pioneer aviator, who developed the Sopwith Camel, and died in 1989.[2]

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England

• Detailed architectural description
• Photographs of the exterior and interior
• More photographs