Restoration started in 1842 as an act of will by the newly installed Rev William James Dampier. Restoration of the nave began in 1851and this included a new roof and substantial refroofing of the aisles. By 1863 the fabric of the Nave and aisles had been completed under the architect Ewan Christian. Work was substantially completed in 1875 at an estimated cost of £7,460.

There had formerly been eight consecration or dedication crosses painted on the walls but these were covered over early on in the restoration process. In 1882 the first part of the polychromatic decoration on the chancel walls was begun and the whole scheme was completed in early 1889. It was designed and executed by Messrs Clayton & Bell. The colouring was 'chiefly chocolate with gold, green, red, blue and other tinctures harmoniously interspersed' [From Beaumont's History of Coggeshall 1890]

During the restoration of the church after the WW2 bomb, so much plaster in the chancel had to be removed to repair the walls that it was 'out of the question' to attempt repainting to match the old. 'even if it had been desirable'. sections the walls were whitewashed 'the resulting lightness is a joy to behold'.
Quotes from 'The Rebuilding of the Church of St Peter's ad Vincula' by Norman Brown

(use the arrows to see more pictures of the church including the wartime bomb damage)

Date: c 1890
Ref: 05/19