Colchester

Colchester is Britain’s oldest recorded city and is located on the River Colne in Essex. It has had a Garrison since the Roman Period.
It was Roman Camulodunum, also known as Colonia Victricensis, the Capital of the Trinovantes and first Capital of the Roman Province of Britannia. It was on a junction of two Roman Roads, the Pye Road and the Via Devana.

Walking Colchester Roman Walls
- Colchester Roman City Walls are intact and can be walked around.
- They were constructed between 65-80 CE after Boudicca's Revolt of 60-61 CE.
- The walls are 1.7 miles (2.8km) long, 7 feet (2.4m) wide and were originally 19 feet (6m) high. Two Gates have survived from the original six. There are medieval bastions supporting the Wall.
Vaults of the Roman Temple of Claudius
- Built in 54-60 CE, now underneath Colchester Castle.
Roman Theatre of Gosbecks
- Located 2m (3.5km) southeast of the town centre, it was D shaped and could hold 5,000 people. It was an earth embankment surrounded by a Kentish Ragstone wall, which has now gone.
Roman Theatre in Maidenburgh Street
- Located in the town centre, the D shaped Theatre is no longer visible above ground.

Colchester Castle Museum
- Colchester Castle
- The Castle was built over the Temple of Claudius. The Castle Walls are made of reused Roman Brick and Stone from the old Roman Town.
- Inside is the Colchester Sphinx, Mosaics and other Artefacts.
- There is access to the Roman Vaults of the Roman Temple of Claudius.

Britain’s oldest city

In 77 CE Pliny the Elder recorded that Anglesey was approximately 200 miles from Camulodunum. And this is the first written reference of a Place Name in Britannia.
It was the first city in Britain to be awarded the title of Colonia making it Britain’s oldest city.

First Capital of Britannia (43-60 CE)

Colchester was the first Capital of the Roman Province of Britannia. It is not known why the Romans chose Colchester, but possibly because it was previously the Capital of the Catuvellauni who dominated the area around Hertfordshire and controlled the Trinovantes in Essex and Suffolk.
After Boudicca's Revolt in 60 CE, the Capital was moved to London.
Colchester had two Roman Theatres. A Roman Circus track for chariot racing has also been excavated underneath the Garrison.

It was built on the same scale as Temples in Rome, but today only the Vaults and Podium remain and are now underneath Colchester Castle.
The Temple was an impressive octastyle temple with columns running down the sides, dedicated to Claudius and the Cult of the Roman Emperor.

Colchester was the location of the beginning of Boudicca's Revolt, where Colchester and the Temple of Claudius were burnt to the ground. Boudicca went on to burn London and St. Albans before being defeated at the Battle of Watling Street.

Roman Mint at Colchester

A Mint was operated between (287-296 CE) by the Emperors of the breakaway Britannic Empire, Carausius (287-293 CE) and Allectus (293-296 CE).
Mint Marks: C, CL.

Colchester Zoo
- The Zoo is located in a 60 acre country park on the Maldon road, Heckfordbridge, Essex, which lies 4 miles (6km) southwest of Colchester. The Zoo was opened in 1963 and has been featured on TV and Radio.
- It is home to approximately 240 different species from around the world, some of which are rare and endangered.
- The collection includes Rainbow lorikeets, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Koi carp, Madagascar Lemurs, Otters, Gibbons, Burmese Pythons, Red Pandas, Giraffes, Rhinoceros, African Bush Elephants, Cheetahs, Spotted Hyenas, Mandrills, Warthogs, South American Sea Lions, Bornean Orangutangs, Komodo Dragons, Amur Tigers, Sun Bears, Meerkats, Green Anaconda, Linnaeus’s Two Toed Sloths, Chimpanzees, Crocodiles, Monkeys, Iguanas, Andean Condors, King Vultures and many more species.

Photo and map: Cottages view, North Bridge, Colchester