When William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 East Meon was already an ancient and important settlement.
A church had probably been here since the early days of Christianity in this part of the country. By the 10th century the church was sufficiently important for a Saxon king to grant lands to it. Sadly nothing of the Saxon church remains. Even its position is uncertain although it was probably on the site of the present building. The Normans built widely and often magnificently as a means of proclaiming their new won supremacy.
In the century following the Conquest many new castles, cathedrals and parish churches were built including All Saints, East Meon. This church was built by the bishops of Winchester, the lords of the manor. The main builder was probably Bishop Wakelin who was also responsible for the rebuilding of Winchester Cathedral. From the beginning the church was conceived on a grand scale. The increasingly elaborate decoration, from the simplicity of the west door to the intricacies of the tower, suggests it may have been built over a considerable period, from roughly 1080 to 1150.
After this time most alterations were largely to the detail of the church. Windows were modernised, particularly in the 15th century when a large east window was added. In the 18th century the church was filled with high pews and galleries and these were not removed until a major restoration in 1869/70. Further restoration was done in the early 20th century by the famous Church architect Sir Ninian Comper. ..... Longer history >>
