Post-medieval
C16–C18
In the medieval period Colchester was an important wool town manufacturing a woollen cloth called russet. This cloth could be exported overseas in a trade with Europe through the town's port at the Hythe. In 1565 Colchester welcomed Protestant refugees from Europe who brought with them new ways of making finer cloths called bays and says. Colchester became particularly well known for its production of bays. Workshops were set up in what we now call the Dutch Quarter. Finished cloth was inspected and labeled as authentic Colchester cloth in the Dutch Bay Hall on the High Street before being sold. The new textiles were very profitable.
Dutch Quarter
Photography Kate Goodall
From the 1560s Flemish weavers started to arrive in Colchester fleeing religious persecution. Using workshops in the 'Dutch Quarter' they produced cloth that was finer and cheaper than anything else made in England at the time. Colchester became famous for these new textiles and the town's economy prospered.
Weaver's Dwellings
Credit needed
Image courtesy Colchester & Ipswich Museums
Taken by Harold Poulter. Image courtesy Colchester & Ipswich Museums.
Flemish settlers set up their own community in this area and continued to produce fine cloth. This was profitable and very beneficial for the town's economy.
Peake's House
Photography Kate Goodall
Photography Kate Goodall
Peake's House was originally three cottages at the centre of Colchester's cloth trade. The long mullioned windows were designed to give light to the weavers at their looms.
Jacob Ringer's Gravestone
Jacob Ringer was buried here in 1680. He was a clothmaker. His gravestone has a carved skull and cross bones at the top and reads, 'Here lyes intered the body of Jacab Ringer Bays Maker who departed this life January the 20 in the yeare 1680'. He survived the siege in 1648 and had to contribute towards paying the town's fine.
Flemish refugees arriving in Colchester
Image courtesy Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service
Dutch Refugees Fleeing from the Persecution of the Duke of Alba, Praying Permission of the Bailiffs of Colchester to Settle in the Town, 1570 AD by Harry Becker. This painting shows the arrival of Flemish settlers in Colchester and imagines their reception in the town.
Town hall stained glass
CREDIT TBC
The stained glass depicts the interior of a Flemish weaver's cottage. The dedication reads 'To keep in remembrance the hospitality extended by the town of Colchester to the Hugenot refugees in the 16th and 17th centuries and the establishment by them of the manufacture of 'Bays and Says' which flourished for more than two hundred years to the great advantage of the inhabitants'.
Dutch Bays Hall
Image courtesy Colchester & Ipswich Museums
When cloth was ready to sell it went to the Bay Hall to be inspected. If it passed the quality inspection a quality seal was attached. Colchester cloth was well known as good quality.
Isaac Rebow's House
Photography Kate Goodall
Photography Kate Goodall
Sir Isaac Rebow lived here. He was a wealthy clothier of Flemish descent. He was also a Member of Parliament and hosted King William III here.
Collins and Pallot murals
Photography Kate Goodall
Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot's murals reference Colchester's clothmaking heritage.
For 11 weeks in the cold wet summer of 1648 Colchester was under siege by Parliamentarian forces. Royalist supporters of King Charles I arrived in Colchester and although the gates were shut against them they were able to enter the town when the keys were thrown across the walls. Once they were inside, Colchester was quickly surrounded by the opposing Parliamentarian army led by Sir Thomas Fairfax. There was no way out for Royalists or the people of Colchester who were trapped inside. As the siege progressed food became scarce and conditions were unsanitary. The damage done to buildings by the opposing armies can be seen in our One Square Mile, particularly at St John's Abbey gate, St Botolph's Priory, St Mary's Church, St Martin's Church and the Berryfield breach in the town wall. The siege ended when the Royalists surrendered. Their leaders Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were tried and sentenced to death. The obelisk behind the castle marks the place where they were killed by a firing squad. Lucas and Lisle were buried in St Giles Church.
Headgate
Charles Debenham / St John's Green School collection
This was the scene of fierce fighting at the beginning of the siege as the Parliamentarians tried to break into the town.
Berryfield Breach
Public domain
Parliamentarian soldiers surrounded the town with the Royalists inside the walls. The gap in the wall here was made when cannons fired from outside.
St Botolph's Priory
Michael Coppins, CC BY-SA 4.0
St Botolph’s Priory was badly damaged during the siege.
St Martin's Church
Image courtesy Colchester & Ipswich Museums
The walls were destroyed by General Fairfax’s cannon during the siege in 1648.
St John's Abbey Gate
Charles Debenham / St John's Green School collection
The gatehouse is all that is left of the Lucas family home. An explosion during an attack blew off the roof and killed many Royalist soldiers. Once the gatehouse was captured Fairfax could fire cannons on the town from St Johns Green.
St Mary's Church
Charles Debenham / St John's Green School collection
You can see how St Mary's tower has been rebuilt after damage during the siege. A Royalist gunner was positioned at the top of the tower to fire over the wall onto Parliamentarian troops who returned fire and damaged the tower. At the end of the siege, the Royalists had to hand over their horses and equipment from the churchyard here.
Former King's Head Inn
Charles Debenham / St John's Green School collection
This is where Royalist officers surrendered to General Fairfax on 28th August 1648. You can see a plaque above the door commemorating this event.
Obelisk
Photography Kate Goodall
Royalists Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were executed here on 28th August 1648. They were buried in St Giles Church.
St Giles Church
Image courtesy of Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were buried in St Giles Church after their execution. This is a lobster tail helmet that hung over Lucas’ tomb in St Giles Church.
In 1348 the Black Death or plague, arrived in Colchester. Nobody knew what caused it and many unusual cures were suggested. When plague returned in 1665 it caused the death of 5000 people in Colchester, about half of the town population. Churches in London collected money to send to Colchester to help the residents. People were buried in mass graves and 'Searchers of the Plague' were put in charge of reporting all cases of the plague and seeing all the dead bodies. They had to live away from their families and carry a white wand with them when they went out so people could identify them. 'Bearers' were required to take bodies 'to the ground' which some people think could be the Mound marked on maps near to Mersea Road in our One Square Mile.