The parish church of Downham, standing above the village green beside a small beck, is the oldest building in the village — the tower dates to the 15th century, though there has been a church on this site since at least the 12th century. Inside are memorials to the Assheton family, the lords of the manor who have owned Downham Hall and the surrounding estate for generations and who are responsible for the village's famously preserved character.
Outside on the green stands an old set of village stocks — a reminder that this quiet setting once had its share of public punishment. The churchyard overlooks fields running down to the valley, and the combination of the Norman-style architecture, the stone cottages beyond, and the hill rising behind gives the view a timeless quality that explains why the village is so frequently used as a film location.