Church of St Michael is a 12th century stone Norman church, which was defensible. Standing within the Roman fort of Abbalava on Hadrian's Wall, its stone was used to build the church. The eastern single-bay rectangular vestry is probably a 15th century vicar's pele, which was described as half broken down in 1703. By the mid 18th century the tower had been reduced in height, gabled over and converted into a school house. St Michael is one of a small number of fortified churches in the border area and is unique in having defensible adjoining towers on the east and west ends. A mile east is Beaumont Motte.