Magdalen Green is marked on Chapman & Andre's 1777 map of Colchester, located at the junction of Magdalen Street and Brook Street (called Water Lane on the 1777 map). The map is annotated and records, 'Here a Fair is Kept'.<1> A fair was granted to St Mary Magdalen's Hospital in 1189 by Richard I, to be held on the vigil and feastdays of St Mary Magdalen, the 21st & 22nd July.<2> Buildings front the green on the east and west sides, the medieval church of St Mary Magdalen lies on the north side. The green is also shown on the Sparrow Town Plan of 1767. Cole & Roper's 1805 Plan suggests the green has been built over, with two rows of buildings, aligned N to S, although Monson's 1848 map shows the green as an open area. St Mary Magdalen's Church had been erected across the site of the former green in 1853 (MCC9290) The medieval church was demolished in 1854, after the consecration of a new church to the south, also called St Mary Magdalen's Church, built on the green. The churchyard was extended south beyond the earlier brick boundary wall and burials continued in both the old and new grounds until the early 20th century. The 19th century church was demolished in 1994. Approx. location of green plotted from map.