Colchester
Tourist Guides Association
Colchester - Britain's Oldest Recorded Town
After the Romans successfully invaded Britain in AD43, Colchester became the first capital of Roman Britain, before even London had developed in importance. Following Colchester's destruction by Queen Boudicca (Boadicea) in AD60, the Romans built a protective wall around Colchester. Around 2.5 km (1.5 miles) of the original town wall - the oldest in Britain - still stand, together with the largest surviving Roman gateway, which once incorporated a magnificent triumphal arch.
At the heart of Colchester is William the Conquerer's impressive 11th century castle, which is the largest surviving Norman keep ever built. But for centuries the castle kept a hidden secret: the fact that it was built over the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to the conqueror of Britain, the Emperor Claudius. Today, when you visit the award-winning Castle Museum, you can descend into the eerie depths of the temple's original foundation.
Blue Badge Guides can offer a choice of four different tours.
Guided Walking Tour
A walking tour is the best way to explore the town centre and will help you discover:
- why Colchester is Britain's Oldest Recorded Town
- why the town was sensationally destroyed by Boudicca in AD60
- why a building is named after a famous elephant
- why Colchester was under siege for eleven weeks
- where the nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" was written
There are scheduled walking tours every day from 1st June to 30th September from the Visitor Information Centre, and guides can also be booked for group tours at any other time.
- To book a guide for a walking tour call the Visitor Information Centre - 01206 282920
Open-Top Bus Tour
To complement the walking tour, why not also join a Blue Badge Guide on the open-top bus, which takes you further afield and allows you to discover:
- the connection between Colchester and Shakespeare's Cymbeline
- the remains of the earliest known Christian church in Britain
- why some of the town's church towers have their tops missing
- what Gosbecks is and why it is so important to British history
- the location of Colchester's historic military barracks
The open-top bus "Camulodunum" leaves from opposite the Visitor Information Centre:
22nd June to 6th September, Monday to Saturday at 11am, 1.30pm and 3pm.
Sundays in July and August only at 1.30pm and 3pm.
Guided castle tour
During your visit to Colchester Castle, let a Blue Badge guided tour introduce you to some of the mysteries of Europe's largest Norman keep and discover:
- why the largest known Norman staircase has a clockwise spiral
- the remains of the Roman Temple of Claudius
- how Norman plumbing differed from modern!
- the location of genuine medieval graffiti
- unique views of the town from the Castle roof
Guided tours are available during a visit to the Castle Museum:
April to October, Monday to Saturday at 10.45am, 11.45am, 1.45pm and 2.45pm, Sunday 2.45pm and 3.45pm. November to March, Monday to Saturday 1.45pm, 2.45pm and 3.45pm.
- For information on group tours to Colchester Castle, call 01206 282937
Town Hall Tour
Built at the turn of the century, the splendid late Victorian Town Hall is still used as a centre of local government. It contains the Borough Regalia, a beautifully ornate painted Council Chamber and an imposing marble staircase presided over by Queen Victoria, as well as a controversial modern portrait of the present Queen by a local artist. Tours led by a Blue Badge Guide are available for pre-booked groups, through the Mayor's Secretary.
- To book a tour of the Town Hall, call the Mayor's Secretary on 01206 282206
|
