Hardham - St Botolph

St Botolph's Church in Hardham is late Saxon or early Norman. It is considered to be 11th century and was complete by 1125 at the latest. The dedication to St Botolph is generally associated with Saxon churches. Some stones and tiles used by the Romans for their nearby buildings were incorporated into the fabric of the building.


The church changed very little after tit was built. Minimal population growth over the centuries meant that enlargement was not needed; and the parish tended to be poor, with little to spend on rebuilding. Therefore, the church retained its simple appearance until the 19th century, when a porch and bell-turret were added.

In 1862, when a section of whitewash was removed a first painting was found. In 1866 the rest were uncovered. They were faded but clearly discernible.

In the early 12th century, St Pancras' Priory at Lewes, one of the richest monasteries in England, apparently supervised the decoration of the church interior with an extensive set of frescoes. Murals from the same school (the Lewes Group) can also be seen in Shoreham-by-Sea, (see previous uploads). Unusually, the frescoes cover the whole church interior.

The massacre of the innocent