The nave is pre-Conquest, and the small blocked doorway in the north wall has a lintel embellished with a crude chequer pattern, which may well be Saxon work.

The south doorway of the nave is also Saxon and has a Norman arch that was added in the 12th century when the present chancel took shape, although the east window was inserted c. 1200, at the beginning of the Early English period.

[8] There is a modern slate memorial to him on the north wall of the nave of St Mary's Church that was dedicated by the Bishop of Colchester on 11 August 1991.

[11] Like most English villages, Sturmer once had industry of its own, including shops, maltings, farming, orchards for both apples and willow for basket making and cricket bats.

The Stour Valley Railway connected Sturmer to Haverhill and Cambridge to the West and Sudbury and Colchester to the East, but was closed by the Beeching cuts which shut many branch lines.

The trail starts at Pocket Park in Water Lane, next to the old railway station, where an information board and leaflets are provided.