The small village of Hutton Buscel, also known as Hutton Bushel, lies some 5 miles SW of Scarborough. The church, on the western extremity of the village, is largely a medieval structure, despite some restoration work by William Butterfield in 1855. It consists of a 12thc tower, a 13thc three-bay aisled nave, and a 15thc chancel, porch and clerestory.

Romanesque sculpture is found mainly on the tower, but there are also some loose fragments.

Hutton Bushel - and nearby West Ayton - were in 1086 a soke of the king's manor of Falsgrave. There is no mention of the church before the 14thc. (VCH 1923, 193).

Pevsner (2002, 198) suggests a date of c.1160 for the tower, noting that it may have taken some time to build, although the slightly pointed form of the labels may suggest a date more towards the end of the 12thc. The form of the bell-opening on the S face is slightly different as the capitals and bases have a more cubic form. The blocks are also slightly less well dressed. This may support Pevsner’s suggestion.

The dimensions of the tower suggest that a fairly substantial church existed during the latter part of the 12thc. The form of the bell openings would seem to indicate a date of c.1180 for the tower. The tower parapet looks 15thc and was probably constructed at the same time as the chancel and porch. (fieldworker)

Pevsner (2002, 198) also mentions two Norman respond stones with scallop capitals in the porch.