NHER 6617 (Building record) - All Saints' Church, Gresham

Set on a slight hillside to the north of the village, this interesting church consists of a round west tower, nave, chancel, south porch and north vestry. The building seems to have early origins, starting off as a late 11th century church, of which the west wall and probably the tower base remain, together with much material reused in later phases.The round tower was added in the early 12th century, and the rest of the church added to and altered over the next three centuries, including the addition of a 15th century south porch that is rather more elaborate in style than the rest of the building. The north vestry is early 19th century. The top of the tower used to be octagonal, but was rebuilt with battlements in a late Victorian restoration. Inside is to be found an exceptionally well-preserved 15th century font decorated with the Seven Sacraments and the Baptism of Christ, together with some good examples of medieval tomb slabs and a poignant memorial to three sons of the Batt family, all killed during World War Two. The churchyard has some good 19th century memorials, including one in cast iron. Interestingly, in 1886, a Neolithic flint axehead was found built into the tower. The reasons for its insertion are unclear, but may have been superstitious in origin.