Essex Walks' photos with the keyword: Architecture

Octagonal, early sixteenth century. Carved on the sides are the symbols of the four evangelists, alternating with rosettes. The carving is quite primitive. The main picture shows the lion: the other symbols are shown as notes. Matthew: an angel Mark: a winged lion Luke: a winged ox John: an eagle

Some impressive features notably the 15th century porch with an upstairs room, and internally, a 16th centuryhammerbeam roof. The church was repaired and restored by the Victorians several times, in 1839, 1848, 1863 and 1865/6, then the tower had to be re-built following the 1884 earthquake. Despite all this effort and energy, the church was declared redundant in 1985 and is now managed by the Churches Conservation Trust. St Leonards, Colchester

During the Siege of Colchester in 1648 Royalists soldiers used the church as a fort, with marksmen and musketeers lined up on the roof and tower, whilst the nave was used as stables. Musket holes made in the medieval door can stll be seen. Although the battle for the church lasted only a few hours, the entire siege lasted for 11 weeks. Local people supported the Parliamentarians, more so once Royalist soldiers trapped in the town began requisitioning provisions. After a few weeks provisions ran out and people ate dogs, cats and horses. The siege had started in mid-June: by August people were literally starving but despite their desperate pleas, the Parliamentarian commander Lord-General Fairfax refused to let any supplies into the town. or local people to leave. The siege ended on 28 August 1648 when the Royalist soldiers laid down their arms following news of Cromwell's vctory at the battle of Preston. The terms of surrender were that the junior officers and common soldiers were allowed to go free: senior officers were found guilty of High Treason and sentenced to death by firing squad.

The porch was built in the 15th century. The attractive panelling is made from knapped flint flushwork. At the front is a parapet, and there are battlements on each side. In the spandrels of the porch are carvings of St George and the dragon: within the porch, spandrel figures of Adam and Eve have been re-set over the church doorway. The niche statue of Madonna and child is by H & K Mabbitt, 1956.

A stunning double hammerbeam roof spans the nave. It dates from c.1500 and was once brightly painted. Traces of this paintwork can still be seen at the eastern end. The stone corbels are carved with angels, and the braces terminate with carved defaced images of saints. The elegant, 7-bay clerestory was built at the same time as the roof. Pevsner calls this "one of the most magnificent roofs of Essex". This image is looking west, towards the tower.

A superb Grade I listed church, sited on a rise at the heart of the village. The nave, chancel and south aisle were built in the early 14th century although the chancel was substantially restored in 1867. The tower, nave, north aisle, and porch are 15th century. The clerestory and magnificent double hammerbeam roof were added in around1500. The tower contains a surprising amount of puddingstone, cheap and evidently plentiful locally. The south porch and clerestory however consist of very fine knapped flint flushwork - although the flint was readily available, the flushwork required specialist skills. Knapped flushwork is also present on the tower and in a frieze around the base of the chancel. The south, north and west doors, also all around 1500, have remnants of intricate carved tracery. This church is far more elaborate than you would expect from an Essex village church, and Pevsner called it "the Cathedral of the Tendring Hundred" For a virtual tour of St George's: 3D panorama of St George's

The nave, looking east towards the chancel. The main body of the church - nave, chancel, and south aisle - was built during the fourteenth century. The south aisle has two pillars. One is decorated with carved leaves and the other, with extraordinary figures of humans, animals and grotesque devilish creatures. The north aisle was added in the 15th century. The whole nave is high and spacious and full of light thanks to the elegant clerestory added c.1500. The double hammerbeam roof was built at the same time. The chancel was restored in 1867, by T W Nunn.

The nave, looking west towards the tower arch and font. The main body of the church - nave, chancel, and south aisle - was built early in the 14th century, with the north aisle added in the 15th century. The nave is high and spacious and full of ligh, thanks to the 7-bay clerestory which was built in around 1500 at the same time as the double hammerbeam roof. The south aisle has two pillars. One is decorated with carved leaves and the other, with extraordinary figures of humans, animals and grotesque devilish creatures, an example of which is shown as a pop-up. The tower arch is remarkable: it frames the west window beautifully and reaches the top of the clerestory.

The double hammerbeam roof which spans the nave dates from c.1500. It was once brightly painted, and still bears traces of this paintwork at the eastern end. Pevsner calls this "one of the most magnificent roofs of Essex".

Font and tower arch. The tower arch is remarkably tall, reaching the top of the clerestory and framing the huge west window beautifully. In celebration of generations of campanologists there is a display of bell-ringers hats dated from 1716 to1991 high up inside the void - see pop-up. The tower iself contains 6 bells and an old tenor bell. The 20th century font was donated to the church in 1933. The font cover is elaborately carved, traceried and crocketed.