Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester
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]
Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester | |
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![]() Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester, from the southeast | |
![]() ![]() Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester Location in Essex | |
51.8847°N 0.9232°E | |
OS grid reference | TM 013 247 |
Location | Colchester, Essex |
Country | England |
Denomination | Anglican |
Website | Friends of St Leonard at the Hythe |
History | |
Dedication | Saint Leonard |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Redundant |
Heritage designation | Grade II* |
Designated | 24 February 1950 |
Architectural type | Church |
Style | Gothic |
Closed | 1982 |
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]
References
- Historic England, "Church of St Leonard at the Hythe, Colchester (1123578)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 9 July 2013
- St Leonard-at-the-Hythe Church, Colchester, Essex, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 9 December 2016
- The Hythe, Colchester, Streetmap, retrieved 18 February 2011
- Colchester, St Leonard at the Hythe, Britain Express, retrieved 18 February 2011
External links
Media related to Former Church of St Leonard at the Hythe at Wikimedia Commons