Images of St Nicholas, Pyrford, Surrey The church of St Nicholas was built around 1140 and is one of the few complete buildings of the Norman period left in Surrey. Some additions have been made – the bell tower and porch are Tudor and the vestry is Victorian The three-foot thick walls are supported by buttresses of which 3 date from the 15th century. The pulpit is dated 1628 with the initials N B which relates to Nicholas Burley who lived locally at that time. Two layers of wall paintings were discovered in 1869. One of these could not be preserved and its removal revealed traces of Norman work. In repairs to this in 1967 another painting was discovered thought to date to the building of the church in 1140. Both of these paintings are in red ochre, the earlier one showing mounted horsemen and a row of men with staves.
The east window is 14th century and contains some of the original glass. Axe marks of the Norman masons can still be seen on the stone of the chancel arch. There are still three consecration crosses made by the bishop when the church was consecrated remaining.