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St Nicholas's Church












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The Church of St Nicholas- Little Wigborough

Such is the struggle to maintain this attractive

village church with its 750-year history.  It is a struggle worth winning and with your help we will continue to do so.


























THE 1884 EARTHQUAKE

 

The quiet of the county of Essex was suddenly shattered at 9.10am on Tuesday 22nd April 1884 by an earthquake with its epicentre near Peldon.  The shock caused widespread damage in Colchester, and even more in the areas to the south particularly at Wivenhoe, Elmstead, Alresford, East Donyland, Fingringhoe, Abberton, Langenhoe, Peldon, the Wigboroughs, Mersea Island and Bradwell.

Twenty Churches and over a thousand buildings were damaged but no lives were lost.  Little Wigborough church was badly damaged, the roof was completely stripped of its tiles and several pieces of masonry fell from the tower.  Many houses in the parish were also affected. 






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St Nicholas's

Little Wigborough is a small village overlooking the salt marshes and the estuary of the river Backwater River, 8 miles south of Colchester between Great Wigborough and the Mersea and Saltcott creeks.  Being so close to the sea, it is appropriately dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors.  There has probably been a church here from Norman times, the list of Rectors going back to 1272.

 

The population is very small.  Its highest point in the last century was 125 (1831 and 1871) but it has now decreased to about 50.  The parish is now united with Great Wigborough (since 1878) and this parish was joined to Peldon in 1975.

 

The church was in all probability built and maintained by the Lords of the Manor of Copt Hall, which stands near the church.  Little Wigborough is mentioned in the Doomsday Book under the name of WIGHEBERGA, with the land belonging to Hamo Dapifer.  The Manor of Copt Hall was afterwards held by the Earls of Gloucester, who had as under tenants members of the families of Septvans, Boudon, de la Lee, de Boys, Buckland and Cotton.  In the early 17th century, Sir John Cotton sold it to the Governors of the Charterhouse and it was held by them until recent times..

 The present small but attractive building consists of chancel, nave and west tower and had probably been built in the late 15th century.  It is all in the perpendicular style of that period.  Much restoration work had to be done between 1885 and 18888 following the server damage caused by the local earthquake in 1884, especially to the tower.  The church has a piscine and chancel screen.  The registers date back to 1586.  In the nave is a floor slab to Issac Mazengarb 1698, and his wife Mary 1714.

 

The bell – 17” in diameter dates from 1820.  Also in the church is the roll of Rectors from 1272.


























Copyright 2005, Friends of The Wigboroughs