More information : (SU 36691245) St. Mary's Church [NAT] (1)
Parish Church. Of Saxon and Norman origin as a C11th aisleless nave and chancel, with transepts, 13th c restoration of chancel, 14th c south chapel, 15th c north aisle and tower. Substantially restored in 1863 by B Ferrey. Grade II*. (2)
St. Mary. A many gabled building with a harsh Victorian texture outside, thanks to ruthlessly thorough restoration by Benjamin Ferrey in 1863-5. (3)
Recent research suggests that Eling was a minster. The evidence for this is:
a) Much of the parochia consisted of the great royal night's farm estate of Eling, b) As shown in Domesday, both the church and the royal hudred of Redbridge were connected with the parochia, c) The Hundred of Eling was coterminal with the parochia.
This evidence strongly indicates that Eling was a minster. It is further suggested that the monastery at Redbridge (SU31SE11) was in fact more probably sited at Eling rather than Redbridge for the reasons given above. (4) |