Plume Library, Including Tower of Former Church of St Peter
PLUME LIBRARY, INCLUDING TOWER OF FORMER CHURCH OF ST PETER, HIGH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1256632
- Date first listed:
- 02-Oct-1951
- List Entry Name:
- Plume Library, Including Tower of Former Church of St Peter
- Statutory Address:
- PLUME LIBRARY, INCLUDING TOWER OF FORMER CHURCH OF ST PETER, HIGH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-08-21
- Reference:
- IOE01/08444/03
- Rights:
- © Mr Brian Martin. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1256632
- Date first listed:
- 02-Oct-1951
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 08-Oct-1996
- List Entry Name:
- Plume Library, Including Tower of Former Church of St Peter
- Statutory Address 1:
- PLUME LIBRARY, INCLUDING TOWER OF FORMER CHURCH OF ST PETER, HIGH STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- PLUME LIBRARY, INCLUDING TOWER OF FORMER CHURCH OF ST PETER, HIGH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Maldon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Maldon
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 85092 07055
Details
MALDON
TL8507SW HIGH STREET 574-1/7/128 (North side) 02/10/51 Plume Library, including tower of former Church of St Peter (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET (North side) Plume Library and St Peter's Church Tower)
GV I
Public library, incorporating the west tower of the former Church of St Peter. Tower of late C14, upper part rebuilt; library c1699 with addition of 2 bays at east end 1821. Restored by Ewan Christian in 1875. Tower flint and septaria rubble, ashlar and red brick dressings. Library red brick in Flemish bond with some burnt headers; stone dressings; slate roof. PLAN: 3-stage west tower with angle buttresses with stair turret to north-east which gives access to upper floor of library, which is of 2 storeys; 7-bay range. EXTERIOR: tower has buttresses heavily restored with bands of tiling and brick. Blocked west door has 2-centred head, continuously-moulded double-chamfered reveals and label. 2-light west window with Perpendicular tracery and small fragments of stained glass in head. 2-centred south door is later insertion. Single lights to bell or ringing chamber and crenellated top stage. Tower arch is double-chamfered with attached-column responds with moulded capitals. Library has quoins, a first floor plat band, plinth and coved cornice. Windows have cross-casements with leaded lights under gauged arches with keyblocks. C20 door to south side in former window opening. INTERIOR: ground floor has C20 library fittings. First floor has contemporary panelling with fluted pilasters at angles and centre of end wall. Cornice. Peninsula bookcases between windows. 1920s fireplace with Jacobean overmantel. End room in added 2 bays has reused panelling of similar date and blocked fireplace. HISTORY: the nave of St Peter's church collapsed in 1665. The library, which originally housed the grammar school on the ground floor, was given to the town by Dr Thomas Plume on his death in 1704. It is one of the oldest public libraries in England, containing over 7,000 volumes, mainly of the C16-C17. (RCHME: Essex: 1921-: 178).
Listing NGR: TL8509207055
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 464708
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
An Inventory of Essex Central and South West (1921), 178
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 14-Dec-2025 at 17:52:54.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2025. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2025. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry