Old St Mary's Church, West Bergholt

Old St Mary's Church is an Anglican church in West Bergholt with masonry from around 1000 in its north wall, incorporating Roman bricks in the walls and buttresses. The building displays Anglo-Saxon construction techniques and has been preserved as a stone structure over the centuries.

The building served as the main religious center until 1904, when population changes led to the construction of a new St Mary's Church closer to the village. The old church then lost its primary function but remained standing as a historical structure.

The church displays royal coats of arms, including a rare example from the reign of James I and a cast iron piece from 1816 made at a Colchester foundry.

The church is located about three miles northwest of Colchester along the B1508 road and is accessible to visitors during opening hours. Plan your visit during daylight hours as this is the best time to see the building's architecture and details clearly.

The north wall contains original Anglo-Saxon masonry dating to around 1000, making this one of the oldest church walls in Essex. Few visitors realize that such early stone structures are rare in this region and reveal much about medieval building techniques.

Location: West Bergholt

Inception: 1000

Architectural style: Anglo-Saxon architecture

Website: http://visitchurches.org.uk/Ourchurches/Completelistofchurches/St-Marys-Church-West-Bergholt-Essex

GPS coordinates: 51.91710,0.83840

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:12