Site of 18th century, 'New' Church of St Mary, Mistley Towers (EHER 13)

The 'new' church of 1735 was a plain brick parallelogram of brick. It was radically altered by Sir Richard Rigby as part of his grandiose plans for Mistley. In 1776 Adam added square towers at the north and south (ritual east) ends with porticoes on the two long sides. The towers and porticoes had Tuscan columns, those on the towers being free-standing with projecting entablatures. The nave was demolished in 1870 and the towers slightly altered for use as a mausoleum, but were never in fact used (the towers are detailed in EHER 34677 and 34678). In 1866 a report asserted that the church was beyond repair, the church was demolished though the towers were saved.

The 'new' church of 1735 was a plain brick parallelogram of brick. It was radically altered by Sir Richard Rigby as part of his grandiose plans for Mistley. In 1776 Adam added square towers at the north and south (ritual east) ends with porticoes on the two long sides (they are detailed in EHER 34677 and 34678). "The result was extremely original and far from religious-looking". The towers and porticoes had Tuscan columns, those on the towers being free-standing with projecting entablatures "as if they were angle buttresses gone classical". According to Pevsner the arrangement of the towers so far apart "was not aesthetically wholly successful". This is even more so now that the nave has been pulled down, though the "buttressing motif, even if derived from Roman precedent, is handled very daringly" <1> Added to 'new' St Mary's Church (1735) by Robert Adam in 1776. The nave was demolished in 1870 and the towers slightly altered for use as a mausoleum, but were never in fact used <2> <3> Four photos in SMR <4> In 1866 a report asserted that the church was beyond repair, the church was demolished though the towers were saved "and are now regarded as important monuments of the period". Many tombs on the site but only one is of importance. Graded AIIIc by Rodwell <5> Other reference: <6> <7>