Mistley Towers facts for kids
Mistley Towers are two tall towers that are all that's left of an old church called St. Mary the Virgin. This church was in a village called Mistley in Essex, England. The original church was built a long time ago, in the early 1700s. Later, a rich man named Richard Rigby, who was a politician (someone who works in government), had a big idea. He wanted to turn Mistley into a famous spa town – a place where people would visit for relaxing baths and health treatments.
Building the Grand Church
Richard Rigby wanted a very impressive church that he could see from his own house. He also knew that a grand church would be perfect for the wealthy visitors he hoped would come to his new spa town. So, in 1776, he hired a very famous architect named Robert Adam. Adam was known for his beautiful designs in the neoclassical style. This style was inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Adam's design for the church was quite unique. It had a tower at both the east and west ends. It also featured tall porticos (porch-like entrances with columns) on the north and south sides of the main part of the church, called the nave.
Why the Church Was Demolished
The church stood in its grand form for almost 100 years. But around 1870, the main middle part of the church (the nave) was pulled down. This happened because a brand new church, called St. Mary and St. Michael, was built nearby in New Road.
Some of the columns from the old church's porticos were saved and used again. They were placed inside the corners of the remaining towers. So, today, only these two impressive towers are left of what was once a magnificent building.
What Remains Today
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The two towers that remain are square and look very balanced. They are built in the neoclassical style, which means they have a classic, elegant look. They actually look more like tall, fancy buildings called pavilions than typical church towers. Each side of the towers has a triangular top part, called a pediment. On top of each tower is a small dome-like structure called a cupola. These cupolas are decorated with fake windows and columns in the Ionic order style, which have scroll-like tops.
At the bottom of the towers, you can see two smooth Ionic columns at each corner. These columns support a decorative border called a cornice. Interestingly, these columns are just for decoration and don't actually hold up the building. The design of the towers makes it seem like the church was once a mini cathedral (a very large and important church), even though the main part of the church was quite small. That main part, which was a single-story building with a simple roof, used to stand between the two towers. This is the section that was taken down in 1870.
Today, the remaining Mistley Towers are very important historical structures. They are protected as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, meaning they are recognized for their special historical and architectural value.
