Following from our work on a public realm strategy for Colchester city centre, we were commissioned by the City Council to develop a number of projects in full. Our work at Trinity Square will bring back the churchyard of the deconsecrated Holy Trinity Church - technically a public open space, but not open to the public for many years - as a green oasis for all to enjoy. The project received planning and listed building consent in early 2024.
Developing the design involved close working with Historic England as well as local consultation, and drew on detailed research into how the churchyard has changed over time, from its earliest origins through to the development of the adjoining shopping centre in the 1970s which radically changed its setting.
The vision is for a peaceful, light touch revitalisation of the churchyard, with a subtle realignment of the railings to create more generous gathering space off the pavement allowing the Saxon tower - the oldest surviving building in the city centre - to be fully appreciated. It has further developed our specialism in the treatment of historic churchyards, as the second we have worked on involving the restoration and relocation of gravestones.
