St Nicolas Church was built circa 1125. The church building still has two walls and several windows from the original 12th century building (left is the earliest of our Norman windows from inside and out) and many other interesting features from various dates in its history. These include 15th century windows, a 12th century Aumbry and the unique 15th century tower.

The church has been extended several times, notably in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the earlier rebuild, some of the stones were carved with the initials of the Rector and his family and one of them is dated 1713. In 1865 a major extension of the church was carried out under the direction of Sir Gilbert Scott. During this work a Norman altar stone was discovered and restored to the altar in the church where it is still in use today.

Of particular note is the unique oak bell tower which stands alongside, but is not actually attached to the church building. Inside the tower the original medieval staircase to the belfry remains in situ, but is not now used.

 

Above Left: The oak tower which stands beside the west wall of the church. Middle: The medieval staircase inside the tower. Right: The interior of the church.

Surrounding the church is its churchyard which has also been extended several times. The enigmatic little house now in the churchyard was originally outside it! The house known as The Priest House was built in the early 16th century probably as a cottage for a paid Cleric. After 80 or so years, another cottage was built on the west end and the whole building was used as an almshouse. It had a garden to the east of the house where the residents could grow produce. The local woodlands provided firewood, rushes for lighting and rabbits and birds to eat! With the advent of the Union workhouse in Horsham, the house fell into disuse, it was last lived in in the 1860s. With its unaltered features, the house is a unique survival of the type of cottage that must have once been a common sight in the area.

Above and right, The Priest House at Itchingfield.

Our Burial Index is available online by clicking the link below. It is quite a large file so please be patient while it loads. We plan to make the Baptism and Marriage indexes available as soon as possible. If you need assistance with your research plese send us an email by clicking on the History button below.

For more local history information go to www.fourbears.uk.com