All Saints Church, Rickling (EHER 3950)

The present church is of 13th century origin but the original building may have been of pre-Conquest date. The nave which has a 13th century lancet window (blocked), is not in line with the chancel and its unusual proportions may be due to a pre-conquest plan. The south aisle and arcade are of the early 14th century with quatrefoil piers. The west tower is of 3 stages the lower 2 stages are early 14th century and the top stage is 16th century.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 3950, 3951, 3952, and 36346. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Parish church, the earliest detail is a 13th century window in the west wall of the nave. Chancel, south aisle and west tower built around 1346. Chancel arch part rebuilt in the late 15th century. A 3rd stage was added to the tower early in the 16th century. A 14th century screen and a 15th century pulpit are noteworthy. South aisle and arcade are early 14th century, as are lower two stages of the west tower, which has diagonal buttresses only on the lower stage. 13th century west window in the tower. 14th century piscina, 14th and 15th century altar tombs and recesses in the chancel. The church was restored in the 19th century. Chancel and rest of church not on same alignment. The unusual proportions may indicate a pre-conquest plan. <1> - <3> 1975. Field survey. No pre conquest work visible. <4> 2000. Test pitting. Five hand dug test pits were opened around the outside edge of the church in order to expose the base of the foundations. A foundation trench and possible posthole possibly associated with construction of the tower were found. A foundation trench, which truncated an earlier ditch which extended beneath the church, was found adjacent to the west wall of the nave. Material from the ditch include a sherd of possible Saxon pottery and another of 10th to 12th century date. <6> See also: <7> <8>