Sir Bob Russell calls for ancient doorway to be reopened

Sir Bob Russell has asked for works to convert Colchester’s Holy Trinity Church, in Trinity Street, into a community facility to include the re-opening of the historic door at the foot of the Saxon tower.

Most of Holy Trinity Church is medieval, but the Saxon tower survived. It was built about the year 1,000 and is, therefore, some 80 or more years older than Colchester Castle, which was built by the Normans.

Much of the material used by the Saxons was taken from the ruins of Roman buildings which were at least 600 years old at the time, while red Roman bricks are still clearly visible.

Sir Bob said: “It should be possible for works to Holy Trinity to include opening the Saxon doorway, perhaps not for daily use but a few times a year, such as heritage open days.

Read more: 'Welcome to Colchester' - gateway gets revamp as part of £11m project “It would be wonderful to walk through a Saxon doorway where people 1,000 years ago walked, a doorway also used by Normans and by Colchester people in the following centuries. It would bring history alive.”

The church shut nearly 70 years ago and is now owned by Colchester Council. It is understood the door has not been used for at least 150 years.

Under council ownership, it was first a social history museum and then used for a craft market and café. There are now proposals to convert it for community use, having been empty for several years.

It is an issue which is close to Sir Bob’s heart as, in December 1970, he led a clear-up of the church’s dilapidated interior amid fears it would be demolished, leaving just the Saxon tower.

His action led Colchester Council taking possession of the ancient building from the Chelmsford Diocese.

In July, plans to create a colourful mural on the churchyard wall were thrown out after Lion Walk Shopping Centre submitted the plans.

However, the mural was deemed inappropriate for the historic church site, which is the oldest surviving building in Colchester.