Beyond the Point
  • Home
  • All Sites
  • Videos
  • About
  • News
  • Contact
  • More
    • Guides & Kit
    • Submit an Article
  • Prev
  • Next

St. Botolph’s Priory

4 February 20214 February 2021 By Liam Heatherson

St. Botolph’s Priory was an Augustinian religious house in Colchester, Essex, between c.1100 and 1536. It is Grade I listed and can be walked around today in a public park; owned by English Heritage. Whilst it is now only a ruin, it still bears intricate architectural features such as The Pardon Door archway (pictured) and rows of towering arches. It was built with both flint and reused Roman brick.

The priory developed from a Saxon church dedicated to St. Botolph which stood on its site. The church was not dissimilar to the Holy Trinity Church and tower which remains today nearby; Colchester’s oldest church. The priory was established by a Kentish priest named ‘Norman’ who had returned from study in France. Fast-forward to 1380, an interesting case emerges stating how some of the priors complained to the King that certain people were pretending to be their attorneys and proctors, using fake letters to collect money from unsuspecting victims. These imposters were arrested and sent to Newgate goal. Eventually the priory became impoverished. In 1421, the Pope offered to ease punishment for criminals who would aid with the conservation, repair, and alms-giving of the priory. The priory was subject to the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, but the nave was retained as a parish church. During the Siege of Colchester in 1648 in the Second English Civil War, St. Botolph’s Priory was caught in a crossfire of bombardment by the New Model Army, and this is why it is heavily ruined to this day. In 1837, a Gothic Victorian church was built close by.

Sources: Wikipedia, English Heritage

This entry was posted in Location Report
  • Colchester
  • Communal
  • Medieval & Tudor
  • Public Land
Share

Similar Sites

  • SS Richard Montgomery Wreck

    18 May 202212 June 2022
  • Red Sands Seaforts

    16 May 202212 June 2022
  • Wells Firework Factory

    11 May 202211 May 2022

Post navigation

  Colchester Roman Circus
The Atomic Bungalows  

Latest Explores

  • SS Richard Montgomery Wreck

    18 May 2022
  • Red Sands Seaforts

    16 May 2022
  • Wells Firework Factory

    11 May 2022

Recent Comments

  • Tina Bilbe:

    Fabulous photos, though Zeppelin is a little misleading as Kingsnorth
  • Joe Mander:

    Hi Colleen, if you pay to get into Dover Castle,
  • Liam Heatherson:

    Certainly is a cool place, nice to hear the landowner
  • Colleen:

    Are the tunnels open? We will be arriving by cruise
  • Mark:

    There are six hard paths but only the two near

Latest BTP News

  • Abandoned Wales Documentary Series

    15 January 2022
  • Beyond the Point hits 500,000 views on YouTube

    15 November 2021
About Author Liam Heatherson liam@beyondthepoint.co.uk

Like us on Facebook

Subscribe to Our YouTube

Follow us on Instagram

Today we had a great day out taking a look at the Today we had a great day out taking a look at the Maunsell Forts in the Thames Estuary and also the wreck of the SS Montgomery. The forts were built to protect London during the Second World War however the Montgomery wasn’t supposed to finish its journey here. The ship ran aground on a sandbank with 1,400 tonnes of explosives on board. Over the next couple of months the masts on top will be removed however the 500m exclusion zone will remain. 

#derelict #abandoned #seaforts #redsandsforts #ssmontgomery #history #localhistory #militaryhistory #worldwartwo #riverthames #fuji #fujifilmxpro3
Tilbury Fort ⚔️ #tilbury #tilburyfort #museum Tilbury Fort ⚔️

#tilbury #tilburyfort #museum #englishheritage #fujifilm #fort #essex #militaryhistory
Yesterday we travelled to East Tilbury to go on a Yesterday we travelled to East Tilbury to go on a tour of the town and learn about the history of the former Bata Factory. Several buildings still remain from the days of the town being a shoe factory. When the town was being designed it was intended for the community to be self sufficient with farms, tennis courts, a hotel and even a cinema. 

Full set of photos on our Facebook Page. 

#easttilbury #tilbury #bata #batashoes #industrialdesign #industrialheritage #architecture
Load More… Follow on Instagram

© Beyond the Point 2022 - All Rights Reserved