Newton Valence is a village high in the westernmost chalk hills of the South Downs. It is in the East Hampshire district of the county, just over 4 miles S of Alton. St Mary's is a single cell church with no chancel arch, but a step to mark the beginning of the chancel. It has a W tower, a NW chapel and a S vestry, and was built of flint, mostly in the 13thc. It was restored in 1871. The tower is 13thc except for the parapet, which is of brick and was added in 1813. The NW chapel was added in the late-13thc, and the vestry belongs to the restoration of 1871. The only Romanesque features described here are a pillar piscina in the chancel and a font in the NW chapel.

Newton Valence was held by Beorhtric before the Conquest when it was assessed at 10 hides, and by Turstin FitzRolf in 1086, when it was assessed at 5 hides and included a church and two mills. Turstin's overlordship passed to the Ballons, then the Newmarches and the Russells, and Ralph Russel was holding in 1275. The Lord of the Manor in 1249 was Robert de Pont de l'Arche, who died in that year, the manor passing to William de Valence, Henry III's half-brother, passing at his death to Aymer de Valence, his eldest son.

The presence of the NW chapel may indicate the original arrangement of the curious N arcade at Farringdon church.