Temple of Claudius

The Temple of Claudius in Colchester was an impressive octastyle temple with columns running down the sides, inaugurated in 49 CE and completed in 60 CE.
Only the Podium and Vaults remain of the Roman Temple, and are now under Colchester Castle.

It was the largest known classical Temple in Britain, and was built on the same scale as Temples in Rome.
The Temple was built in stone, had a height of 66 feet (20m) and a tiled roof.
It consisted of a main room (Cella) with a Porch in front (Pronaos). It was octastyle, meaning 8 columns formed the Porch, and rows of columns ran down the sides of the temple.
A large altar stood in front of the Temple,
It was the Home Base for the Imperial Cult in Britannia to honour the Emperor Claudius, who had conducted the Roman Conquest of Britannia Britannia in 43 CE.

The Revolt started when Boudicca’s army made a surprise attack on the town of retired Legionaries at Colchester, which was also the Capital of Britannia.
When the Legio IX Hispana left Lincoln to come to Colchester’s defense, it was ambushed and massacred, leaving the defenders unprotected.
Tacitus, Dio Cassius and Suetonius all mention that as Boudicca’s Army slaughtered the population of Colchester, the surviving Roman Colonists barricaded themselves into the Temple of Claudius. After two days however, Boudicca’s Army burnt the Temple down by setting the roof on fire, killing all the occupants.
After going on to burn London and St. Albans, Boudicca was finally defeated at the Battle of Watling Street.
In 62 CE the Temple was rebuilt, but today only the Podium and the Vaults remain.

Colchester Castle Museum
The Castle was built over the Temple of Claudius and nothing of the Temple remains above ground.
However, below ground, the impressive Roman Vaults are open to visitors inside the Castle Museum.

Map and Image: Colchester Castle Museum sits above the vaults of the Temple