Photographs of the Church of St Peter ad Vincula and St Nicholas Chapel, Coggeshall

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Coggeshall Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in the mid 12th century on the orders of King Stephen. The only part of the Abbey still in use today is the small gatehouse chapel of St Nicholas built in the early 13th century. The thing that makes this chapel unique is the use of locally made brick which is the earliest post-Roman brick in England. After the Dissolution it became an agricultural building and wasn't restored until the end of the 19th century.
Coggeshall Church was built by the wealthy wool merchants in the first quarter of the 15th century. It is one of the very few churches in the country dedicated to St Peter ad Vincula (St. Peter in chains). It is supposed to be one of the best specimens of the Perpendicular style in Essex.
In 1940 it was hit by a bomb and badly damaged. The roof of the nave collapsed, dragging down the north arcading and the roof of the north wall. Part of the tower was badly damaged and most of the stained glass windows were blown out, but all the chancel, east end, south wall and south arcading remained. While the restoration was taking place, the tiny chapel of St Nicholas served as a replacement and monthly services are still held here.