Kilham, All Saints Church

Kilham, All Saints Church

All Saints church in Kilham is a large building with a tall west tower. The church dates to the Norman period and the interior incorporates styles from Norman to Georgian.

The most interesting historic feature of the church is to be found outside, however, in the shape of a wonderful Norman south doorway, composed of fully seven orders decorated with traditional Norman chevron patterns.

The south doorway

In the churchyard, opposite the porch is a curious upended stone coffin set into the ground. This used to have a sun dial set upon the end. I wonder if there is any significance in the fact that the open side of the coffin faces the church door?

On the verge just under the churchyard retaining wall, near the road, is a large iron ring set into a stone. This marks the site where, in times gone by, bear-baiting took place. The bears were tied to the ring and attacked by dogs for the entertainment of onlookers.