Art and Architecture
Neo-Classical
Mistley Thorn Church - A Perfect example
Since the 15th century the classical style of architecture had been based on the architect Palladio’s (1508 - 1580) interpretation from decadent Roman ruins.
At the end of the 18th century the rules began to be rewritten with the rediscovery of the temples of Periclean Athens, which were strikingly different to Palladio’s designs. Architects became preoccupied with the correct classical and it is at this time in the 1770’s that Richard Rigby commissioned the Adam brothers to design a classical church for his vision of Mistley as a salt spa town to rival Bath.
This project was the Adam brother’s only ecclesiastical work and they took the original austere rectangular brick building 
that was built on the site in 1735 and transformed it into a neo-classical piece of architecture. They embellished it with Doric columns along both sides and porticos and added two square towers to the north and south. These two towers, known now as Mistley Towers, are what remain today. The rest of the church collapsed due to the damp of the river. They are embellished with Doric columns below a plain entablature with circular mouldings, which in turn supports a further square structure with pilasters and a pediment on either side. It is finished with a circular structure with a plinth supporting a dome around which there are 8 three-quarter columns. Doric columns were taken from the collapsed section and placed at the remaining corners of the towers to make them symmetrical.
Mistley Towers as they are today.
