Arrington, Cambridgeshire

St Nicholas was locked but with a keyholder listed; sadly this was my last visit of the day and time had run out so I couldn't seek out the keyholder. However a peek through the windows didn't reveal much to excite attention so perhaps I didn't miss out on much. It must be said though that its setting is wonderful.

ST NICHOLAS. A remarkably lavish early C14 chancel attached to a humble church. Ashlar-faced, with a big (renewed) three-light E window with intersected tracery and tracery on the N and S sides. Double piscina of the same sumptuous design as in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge, with two intersecting round arches forming a pointed arch. One small square-headed low-side-window on the S side. The nave was deprived of both aisles at some date. They were of three bays and had short octagonal piers. Windows Dec and Perp. The W tower partly rebuilt in the C16 of brick with stone quoins; battlements and a small recessed lead spire.

ARRINGTON. It lies on the Roman Ermine Street, but the oldest thing it has is a crude Norman font shaped like a tub. Its neat little church stands on a hill looking over the cottages with a peep through the trees to the fine park of Wimpole Hall. It has lost its aisles but their 14th century arches are still in the walls, the windows and the old doorway set in them. Perhaps the best possession of the church is a striking 700-year-old piscina niche; though much worn and with one of its pillars gone, it has beautiful arches.