
Investigation into the unused doors of St. Mary’s Church, Deerhurst
St. Mary’s Church in Deerhurst, Gloucestershire has a long and fascinating history. It is one of the most complete churches to survive the Norman conquest. Dating back to 804 AD it is a smorgasbord of architectural styles from various epochs of English history. Deerhurst was an important religious centre for the Saxon kingdom of Mercia and was host to a special moment in Anglo-Saxon history: it was where King Cnut of Denmark and King Edmund Ironside met in 1016 to divide England between them, on an island in the Severn called Olanig. One end of the church was likely damaged by fire around 1100 and the eastern end was lost with a large bricked in arch above the altar and ghost door as evidence to the section that was lost. Stunning church and host to many doors not used anymore.