The Norman style Abbey Church of St Helena and St Mary, which was restored in 1880, is the remains a once far larger monastic church of the 13th century a fine old structure. It is unusual in that it has a detached tower to the north-west. The church is the only remains, of an abbey of Benedictine nuns, founded in the reign of William the Conqueror, by his niece, Judith, Countess of Huntingdon... John Bunyan, author of Pilgrims Progress, was born in the hamlet of Harrowden at the far eastern end of Elstow parish and Baptised at Elstow.