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Nowhere in the world is quite like the village of Deerhurst – it is rare to have one Saxon building in a village, but Deerhurst, tucked away in a remote corner of Gloucestershire, has two.

The Priory Church of St Mary, with its large, distinctive tower, looks medieval or perhaps Tudor from a distance, but at close view it is quickly apparent from the decorative features that this is a Saxon structure. The first record of this church dates back to 804 – a period still known as the Dark Ages. It is said that kings from this time were buried here.

The tower has distinctive herringbone masonry details as well as curious animal-head carvings. An angel carved high on the wall of the ruins of the apse is one of the earliest recorded in the country. Construction on the original rectangular part of the building is thought to have begun in the late 600s. The polygonal apse is generally agreed to be 9th-century work, along with the chapels, and the porch was added in the 10th century. The font, with its spiral carved decoration is thought to be one of the country’s oldest. There are pointed Saxon windows, a small Saxon doorway and stained glass dating from around 1300.

The farmhouse that sits next to the church dates from the same era and was almost certainly part of a series of monastic buildings.

SECRETS

While you’re there

Visit ODDA’S CHAPEL, Deerhurst’s other Saxon building. It is tiny, with just two rooms, but still has its original window openings and chancel arch.

Secret place to stay

THE BELL HOTEL, Tewkesbury (bellhotel-tewkesbury.co.uk). The Bell used to be a guest house attached to a monastery.

The Church of St Mary in Deerhurst.