The Grade 1 listed Escomb Saxon Church is the oldest complete Saxon church in the UK
Founded in c.670-675, much of the stone came from the nearby Roman Fort at Binchester. On the south wall is a 7th or early 8th Century sundial, and on the north wall is a reused Roman stone with the markings “LEG VI” (Sixth Legion) set upside down. The church was restored in 1875-1880 by RJ Johnson, and in 1965 by Sir Albert Richardson.
Further Reading
During 2012 we will be making available a number of interesting articles and historical documents relating to the church on this website. We will be adding to the links below over the coming months:
Escomb Saxon Church 
Very interesting info!Perfect just what I was searching for!
thanks for your comment. We have just started this site so keep looking as we are adding material all the time.
why was the north and west parts of the church pulled down,? why are there no drawings paintings showing this end? and yet it can be seen that there was another side of the church on the west, and also there was stairs leading down underneath the church why has this been blocked off? geofiz as found a vault shape underneath the west side, surely this is history why has it been destroyed? in this day and age it is silly,and if the river was that big why has it got small some of the villagers cannot remember it being that big as stated, but yes it is a wonderful monument to saxon times and you can feel the magical atmosphere around th church and yard and some parts of escomb, a wonderful village and lovely people
Hi
Thank you for your kind comments about the church and the village. The buildings you talk about as far as we know were demolished centuries ago. Church records do not record when or why. The function of these buildings is also open to conjecture as the archaeological digs were not conclusive. The river has changed course many times over the centuries although it likely to be the same size now as it ever was. The west building does have a cellar but it was filled in again after the dig in 1969.
In researching the backgound to a hoby i have of tracking the Saxon methid of timekeeping and discovering that your church has a Saxoon Tide Dial I was pleased to see a picture of it on your web site.
Regards,
Peter Wakeham.