Colchester History

Colchester is England’s oldest settlement; there is evidence of communities first living here between the 7th and 5th centuries BC. And by the 1st century AD it was the regional capital of King Cunobelin, or Cymbeline, who ruled over much of South East England. When the Roman’s invaded England in 43 AD they chose Camulodunum, as Colchester was then known, as their capital and built the Temple of the Deified Claudius, the first in the country, here.

The Iceni tribe led by Queen Boadecia, sacked the settlement and temple some seventeen years later after the Roman’s failed to honour agreements with their one-time allies. The Roman Governor Suetonius Paulinus ultimately defeated the Iceni and the town was fortified with walls.

One thousand years later Colchester was still a critical stronghold as the Norman’s built their largest keep on the site of the former Roman Temple. The Castle now houses a museum, which covers Colchester’s long and varied history.