Monument record MCC9290 - St Mary Magdalen's Church, Colchester

Summary

St Mary Magdalen's Church was erected in 1853 (consecrated in 1854) on the site of Magdalen Green (at the junction of Magdalen Street and Brook Street) and to the south of the medieval church (MCC418). The 19th century church was demolished in 1994 and there are no visible traces (of church or churchyard) and St Mary Magdalen House (1-6 Magdalen Street) is located on the site of the church.<1><2> The medieval church (which lay to the north) was demolished in 1854, after the consecration of a new church to the south. The churchyard (see also MCC2533) 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 churchyard extended along the west side of Brook Street, across the site of the medieval church and as far as the almshouses. Rodwell recorded in 1977, 'The C19 church is a drab building with little historic interest; it is faced with knapped flints on a brick and rubble core (probably containing much medieval stonework from the hospital). The facing flints are falling away at the east end and the soft limestone dressings around the windows and doorways are badly decayed. The cost of maintaining this building will be great. The graveyard is a fairly large, walled area, now disused, with few monuments: presumably clearance has taken place in the past. The monuments include a few heavily weathered C18 headstones and some C19 tombs, only one of which is of real interest: a box-tomb with iron railings.<3>

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 0058 2481 (44m by 93m)
Map sheet TM02SW
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

St Mary Magdalen's Church was erected in 1853 (consecrated in 1854) on the site of Magdalen Green (at the junction of Magdalen Street and Brook Street). The 19th century church was demolished in 1994.

The medieval church (which lay to the north) was demolished in 1854, after the consecration of a new church to the south. 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 churchyard extended along the west side of Brook Street, across the site of the medieval church and as far as the almshouses.

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <1> Article in serial: Crossan, Carl. 2004. Excavations at St Mary Magdalen's Hospital, Brook Street, Colchester.
  • <2> Serial: Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd.. 1989. The Colchester Archaeologist (Issue Number 3) 1989-90. No 3. pp.8-11.
  • <3> Monograph: Rodwell, Warwick J with Rodwell, KA. 1977. Historic Churches: a wasting asset. p.36.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Apr 4 2017 3:03PM

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