Colchester

Colchester is an historic town in the north of the English county of Essex, with a population of about 160,000. It is the main town in the borough of Colchester, is one of the towns which claim to be Britain's oldest town (but is the oldest recorded Roman town).

Roman Colchester

Colchester is the oldest recorded Roman town in England, although it existed as a Celtic settlement before the Roman conquest and there is archaeological evidence of settlement 3,000 years ago. Its Celtic name was "Camulodunon", meaning "the Fortress of Camulos". (Camulos was the Celtic god of war.) This name was modified to the Roman spelling of "Camulodunum" (written "CAMVLODVNVM").

Related Topics:
Oldest recorded Roman town - Celt - Roman - Camulos

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Camulodunum was the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe. King Cunobelinus (or "Cunobelinus") (Cymbeline in William Shakespeare's play and "Old King Cole" of the nursery rhyme) was ruler of the Catuvellauni when the Romans invaded Britain in AD43.

Related Topics:
Cunobelinus - Cymbeline - William Shakespeare - Old King Cole - Catuvellauni - Romans invaded Britain - 43

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A Roman legionary fortress was established at Colchester in AD43. This was the first permanent legionary fortress to be built in Britain. Later, when the Roman frontier moved north (c. AD49), Colchester became a colonia known as Colonia Claudia Victricensis (written "COLONIA CLAVDIA VICTRICENSIS"). Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain before it was moved to the more accessible site of London.

Related Topics:
43 - 49 - Colonia

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A Roman monumental temple was built at Colchester in c. AD44 and was dedicated to the Emperor Claudius as The Temple of the Divine Claudius. The temple was completely destroyed during Boudicca's rebellion in AD61.

Related Topics:
44 - Boudicca - 61

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Colchester was the only place in the province of Britannia where samian ware was produced (for a short time). Roman brick making and wine growing also took place in the area. Bricks have been made in Colchester (or in the surrounding area) for around 2,000 years.

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Many Roman mosaics and artefacts have been found in subsequent archaeological digs in the town and some can be seen at the Colchester Castle museum. The Roman walls still survive (they are the most complete in the country) and they contain the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain. Many holes have been cut in the walls over the years and the history of the whole town can be seen in its surviving structure. Medieval buttresses, shops and steps are still present in Colchester.

Related Topics:
Archaeological dig - Colchester Castle

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