The Colchester Archaeologist 1996-7 - Colchester Archaeological ...

But how do you go about finding churches?Well, you could start with the nineteenthcenturyanswer to our Yellow Pages! Localdirectories were published by several firms.Among others, you will find Kelly's Directoryof Essex in the Local Studies Section inColchester's Public Library. Here is a sectionfrom the 1895 edition listing all the non-conformistchapels in Colchester.2 How many times have you seen streetnames like these?3 The names of places often show a connectionwith churches. A place with a monasterywill often contain the word mynster, the OldEnglish word-for example Charminster inDorset. Can you think of any in Essex?Old documents andmaps often give us theevidence for churches.Here is the church atAldham, near Colchester,pictured on amap drawn in 1639.4 Fields were often named after churches orchapels, or show that the land was once ownedby the church. Church or Chapel Field orCrofts is common. One field in Herefordshireis called Church Way Field, meaning 'land onthe road to the church'.Finally, many churches and chapels have been recycled foranother use. Here are some examples from Colchester andDovercourt.There are several other ways of spottingthe places where churches or chapelsstood:Stockwell Street chapelis now offices.1 Wall plaques can often tell about nonconformistchapels.In Dovercourt'sHigh Street thischapel had a shopbuilt in front of itand is now a keepfit centre.The chapel in Kingsway,Dovercourt nowhas shops inside.19