Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester

Church in Essex, England
51°53′05″N 0°55′24″E / 51.8847°N 0.9232°E / 51.8847; 0.9232OS grid referenceTM 013 247LocationColchester, EssexCountryEnglandDenominationAnglicanWebsiteFriends of St Leonard at the HytheHistoryDedicationSaint LeonardArchitectureFunctional statusRedundantHeritage designationGrade II*Designated24 February 1950Architectural typeChurchStyleGothicClosed1982

The Church of St Leonard at the Hythe is a redundant Anglican church in Hythe, Colchester, Essex, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] The church stands on the north side of Hythe Hill, in the Hythe area of Colchester.[3]

For many years St Leonard's served as the church of the port of Colchester.[2] Its earliest fabric dates from the 14th century. Additions and alterations were made in the following century, and the hammerbeam roof of the nave dates from the early 16th century.[1] During the Siege of Colchester in the Civil War, Royalist soldiers took refuge in the church.[4] Bullet holes from this incident survive in the door.[2][4] In the earthquake of 1884 the tower was damaged and its top stage was replaced.[1]

The screens and furnishings date from the 19th and 20th centuries. Over the chancel arch is a mural dated 1901. Stained glass windows depict various saints.[2] Over the centuries the church has required repeated restoration due to subsidence, or to inadequacies in the earlier construction.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Historic England, "Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester (1123578)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 July 2013
  2. ^ a b c d St Leonard-at-the-Hythe Church, Colchester, Essex, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 9 December 2016
  3. ^ The Hythe, Colchester, Streetmap, retrieved 18 February 2011
  4. ^ a b Colchester, St Leonard at the Hythe, Britain Express, retrieved 18 February 2011
  • Media related to Former Church of St Leonard at the Hythe at Wikimedia Commons