Essex Walks' photos

Grass snake swimming across the River Stort on the Essex/Hertfordshire border.

It stopped swimming towards us and just stayed in one spot looking warily at us.

Fixing us with a steely glare, it was trying to 'smell' the potential threat.

Satisfied we weren't a threat, it carried on to the bank of the River Stort.

The ruins of St Botolph's Priory stand just outside the south east gate of Colchester's Roman wall. Built around 1100 AD, it was the first Augustinian priory established in England, and was dissolved in 1536 by Henry VIII. It continued in use as a parish church until the English Civil War when it was reduced to a ruin during the siege of Colchester in 1648. A 3d panorama of the site can be seen here: St Botolph's Priory (G+ Photosphere)

St Botolph's Priory, Colchester on Essex Views

The original church was just over 176 ft long (about twice as long as the surviving standing ruins), with a central tower and transepts. St Botolph Priory

The main west door into the church was called the Pardon Door, because it was where pardons were granted at the feast of St Denis - 9th October, known as Pardon Day.