Colchester, situated not far from the East Coast about 50mi/80km northeast of London, can claim to be the oldest town in Britain, having been a Celtic capital even before the Romans came. Colchester is famous for its rose nurseries and its excellent oysters from the oyster beds in the estuary of the River
Colne. It is an attractive town with many fine old buildings of various periods. Extensive excavation has unearthed, among other things, the best preserved Roman walls in Britain.
The site has a long history of settlement, extending back at least to the Bronze Age. In about 40 B.C., recognizing its strategic value, Cunobelinus (Shakespeare's hero Cymbeline), chief of the Catuvellauni, moved his capital to Colchester (Camuldonum) from what is now St Albans. The Romans captured the town in A.D. 44 during the reign of Claudius, but in 61-62 it was sacked by the Iceni from Norfolk under Boudica (Boadicea).
When the Normans arrived Colchester had a population of some 2,000 and several churches, and still preserved part of its Roman walls.
In modern times excavation has revealed the ancient British town, the Roman camp and the later Roman "Colonia".
In 1648 the town was taken by Parliamentary forces under Fairfax after a 76 day siege.
Like 16th C immigrant Flemish weavers before them, Huguenot refugees settling in Colchester in the early 18th C brought their silk weaving skills to the local wool and cloth trade, thus making an important contribution to the town's increasing prosperity. It was the Huguenots also who introduced flower growing.
Print this page
Add to Favorites
