Church Of St Peter And St Paul |
| Hob Uid: 386112 | |
Location :
Essex
Colchester
West Mersea
|
| Grid Ref : TM0091612505 |
| Summary : There is good evidence from a number of wills that the Church of Saint Peter, West Mersea was a minster in the 10th and 11th centuries. The West tower is of the Saxo-Norman period, the nave, chancel, South aisle and North porch being rebuilt in the 14th century. It was again altered in the 16th century. Between 1046 and 1400 the church was the conventual church of West Mersea Priory, which was situated to the East of it. Roman remains are built into the fabric, a readily available source of the material being the substantial Roman complex it is built on. |
More information : (TM 00911250) Ch (NAT) (1)
St. Peter and St. Paul's monastic (see TM 01 SW 16) church is of 14th century and later date, but has Saxon and post-Conquest features in its west tower. In 1972 a fragment of decorated Anglo-Saxon sculpture was seen in the return wall of the south aisle. Roman material is built into the church. (2-5)
Church in normal use. (6)
The Colchester Archaeological Group dug a single trench in the southern part of the churchyard in 1971 prior to building work. The excavation is unpublished but it appears that no artefactual material was found other than a few pieces of Roman tile. The trench cut through 2m of accumulated depouts containing several burials. There is a valuble body of evidence for religious buildings of Mersea, with added interest from the substantial Roman complex underlying the church and priory (TM 01 SW 16) area (see TM 01 SW 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28). Also of note is the definite presence of an Anglo-Saxon Minster dedecated to St Peter of West Mersea. (7)
Additional references. (8-9)
Parish Church. Tower of Saxo-Norman overlap. Other features 14th-19th centuries. (10)
Description of the 10th-11th century limestone grave cover built inot the south aisle wall immediately to the west of the south door. (11) |