The lowest part of St Botolph's Priory has been clearly constructed using bricks from the old Roman town of Colchester.
Excavations have revealed the internal length of the church to be about 200 feet. The crossing tower stood supported by corner columns, similar to those that survive in the nave, whilst the width from transept to transept was about 85 feet.
Fronting the church was a monumental west front, none of which survives with a screen facade that is believed to have been built about 1160. Short towers flanked it either side.
The church survived the reformation, an unusual situation for a priory that had had its religious order closed by 1540. It was then used as a church for the town of Colchester until the English Civil War saw it so badly damaged in 1648 it lost its roof and suffered major structural damage. This was a chain of events that led to it fall into the ruin it is in today.
Companies
If your company has been involved with the Design/Build, Supply or Maintenance of this building please submit your details.
