Standon

This tiny village welcomed the first traveller from the skies ''Vincenza Lunardi', a young Italian, who arrived by balloon in the autumn of 1784. A stone commemorates this event northeast of the village.

The Church of St Mary sits on a hill and has two features which are unique in the county: a big, west porch and a detached tower. The chancel is reached by raised steps and dates from the 13^th century. The arch of the chancel is rich with carving, and there is a tomb to Sir Ralph Sadler, with his seven children and a pole that once bore the Royal Standard of Scotland.