Langford, Oxfordshire, St Matthew's Saxon church Photos
The lovely village of Langford, in the Shill Valley of western
Oxfordshire houses a great treasure in the shape of the superb late Saxon
church of St Matthew.
The south porch and Saxon tower of St Matthew's church. The tower is the most immediately striking aspect of this lovely old church.
The church from the west end. Here you can see two projecting pinnacles, which are most unusual. There is no apparent architectural need for them, so we have to assume they were decorative.
The west end of the nave. Here the two pinnacles can be clearly seen. It is possible that they were added during a 16th century rebuilding.
The central tower of St Matthews. Here you can see the strong Saxon influence, in the design, and the unusual pink colouring of the finish.. The tower was probably erected around 1040.
At the point where the tower joins the roof of the nave crossing is this lovely low relief carving in Saxon style of two men carrying a sundial.
Detail of the double arched tower windows.
Set into the second level of the tower are several small Saxon style windows. Note the chamferred edges, narrowe opening, and arched style, all indicitative of a strong Saxon influence.
Moving around to the north wall of the nave you can see two flying buttresses inserted to stabilize the wall. An inscription on one of the buttresses indicates that they were built in 1574.
Closeup of one of the flying buttresses bracing the north wall of the nave.
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