Photographs of Colchester
Click on an image to see the full picture
Colchester is claimed to be the oldest recorded town in Britain on the
grounds that it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder in AD 77. Its Celtic name was
Camulodunon, meaning 'the fortress of (the war god) Camulos'. Following the
Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43, a Roman legionary fortress was established
and the name Camulodunon was modified to the Roman spelling of 'Camulodunum'.
Camulodunum served as the first Roman capital of Britain, but was attacked and
destroyed during Boudica's rebellion in AD 61.
Medieval Colchester's main landmark is Colchester Castle, which is an 11th century
Norman keep, and built on top of the vaults of the old Roman temple. There are
notable medieval ruins in Colchester, including the surviving gateway of the
Benedictine abbey of St. John the Baptist and St Bodolph's Priory. Bourne Mill was built in 1591 and still
has its millpond and some of the machinery. I will get there when it's open one day!
Colchester also has some interesting more modern architecture including the Colchester
Town Hall and the Gothic Folly built in 1730 as a background for 'medieval' plays.
