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©PAUL FARMER
Standing high on the Essex bank of the River Stour, looking across to Bures in Suffolk, this church has Norman foundations, although the tower, spire and transepts were (re)built in 1875. The chancel, nave and 15th Century south porch all have Roman brick quoins.
©PAUL FARMER
The church is described as Norman, it is built of brick and stone with a tiled roof with Norman features. There are no records which can date the church with certainty, however a manuscript of 1705 tells of a stone over the porch. The document states "at the top of the porch on the outside there was formerly a stone about eight inches square bearing the date MLIX (1059). In 1770 the spire was taken down and the tower heightened. The church was restored in 1875 and again in 1908 and 1936. During the 1875 restoration, Thomas Harris took down the dilapidated central tower and replaced the 1770 parapet tower with the "Sussex" type beech construction which we see today.
©PAUL FARMER
©PAUL FARMER
©PAUL FARMER
©PAUL FARMER
©PAUL FARMER
The gate is in the grounds of St John the Baptist Church, Mount Bures, where the footpath passes through
©PAUL FARMER
©PAUL FARMER
Roger of Poitou was awarded the Lordship of Mount Bures after the Battle of Hastings in 1066, so it is likely the Mount Bures "Motte" was built around 1067.
©PAUL FARMER
Dist:0.1km<br/>Mount Bures once had a Norman castle, which may explain the cruciform shape of the church. Most of the church dates from Norman times but the crossing tower and transepts were rebuilt in 1875. Like many churches around the Colchester area, the building material includes re-used Roman bricks.
©Robert Edwards
Dist:0.2km<br/>The picture is taken from the Motte at Mount Bures
©PAUL FARMER
Dist:0.3km<br/>Looking even more abandoned now the windows have been boarded up.
©Roger Jones
Dist:0.3km<br/>
©PAUL FARMER
Dist:0.7km<br/>The pub stands on a high point with views across the railway line and towards the River Stour.
©Zorba the Geek

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