St Hilda's Church

St Hilda's Church is a Grade I listed church building in Headland, located on coastal ground overlooking the sea with distinctive flying buttresses supporting its structure. The building contains architectural elements dating from the 12th and 13th centuries and now includes a Visitor Centre offering interactive displays and detailed virtual tours created from laser scans.

The church was constructed in the late 12th century on the remains of an earlier monastery that had been established on the same location during the 7th century. The original religious community was destroyed during Viking raids in the 9th century, after which the current structure eventually rose to take its place.

The church continues to serve worshippers while also functioning as a community gathering place through local programs and events. This dual role keeps the building at the heart of neighborhood life for both spiritual and social purposes.

The site welcomes visitors and provides exploration options through in-person visits as well as digital methods, allowing you to choose how you want to experience the building. Planning time for both the physical spaces and interactive features helps you make the most of your visit.

Excavations during the 1980s found Anglo-Saxon namestones and foundations of the original double monastery buried beneath the current church grounds. These discoveries reveal that multiple religious structures occupied this location across different periods.

Location: Headland

Inception: 1200

GPS coordinates: 54.69540,-1.18177

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:23