St Leonard-at-the-Hythe Church

The earliest surviving part of the church is the north aisle of about 1330. There is an impressive early 16th-century hammer beam roof in the nave. The church was partially restored in 1863 and the upper part of the tower was rebuilt following the Colchester Earthquake of 1884. A wooden rood screen was added in 1904 and is associated with the slightly earlier (1901) wall painting over the chancel arch. There is a good collection of early 20th-century stained glass featuring saints. A room above the south porch, the parvis, according to legend was used as a gaol and is only accessible by ladder. Within the tower are six bells of which the two oldest date from the 15th century, one cast by William Chamberlain and the other by John Kebyll. Outside on the south face of the tower is a stone clock face of about 1500.

St Leonard's features in the 1648 Siege of Colchester with evidence of a skirmish being found in a series of bullet holes in the south door. There are soldiers' graves from the Napoleonic wars in the churchyard which can also be visited. Inside the church there are memorials to the Hawkins and Barnes families whose members made a major contribution to life in Victorian Colchester.

The church became redundant in 1985 and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 07 September:

1000-1600

Sunday 08 September:

1000-1600

Location & directions

Hythe Hill, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2NP

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

The ground in the churchyard is uneven and care should be taken when visiting.

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