Romans
AD 43 – AD 410
The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43. Their army arrived in Kent and battled against the Britons as they made their way to Colchester where the Iron Age kings surrendered to them. Emperor Claudius brought war elephants with him and joined his army. Once Colchester was brought under Roman control, Claudius left to go back to Rome and left some of his soldiers to build a fortress. Archaeologists have found evidence of this within our One Square Mile. When these soldiers moved on, the new town called Colonia Victricensis (City of Victory) was populated by retired soldiers who wanted to stay. New public buildings were constructed including a Temple of Claudius, a theatre in Maidenburgh Street and a monumental arch. Remains of the monumental arch can be seen at Balkerne Gate.
Temple of Claudius
Image courtesy of Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
Colchester Castle by Michael Jefferies via Flickr CCBYNC2.0
Colchester Castle was built on top of the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius. The Temple was built in honour of Claudius after the invasion of Britain. It was built from stone and bricks with bronze front doors and was probably taller than the castle is today. It was a place to meet and to worship. When Boudica attacked Colchester in 60 Romans headed to the stone temple for safety, but the temple was attacked and damaged. It was renovated afterwards.
Roman Theatre
Kate Goodall
Joanne Locke
Remains of the Roman Theatre can be seen in Maidenburgh Street. Look for the darker paving in the road that shows the outline of the theatre's walls.
Balkerne Gate
Balkerne Gate by Carole Raddato via flickr CCBYSA2.0
Balkerne Gate is the largest surviving gateway from Roman Britain. It was the main entrance through the Roman Wall and would have had large archways for carts and pedestrians. It is thought that less than a quarter of the original gateway survives today.
Boudica was queen of the Iceni, an Iron Age tribe from the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire area. In AD 60 she led a rebellion against the Romans when the Iceni king Prasutagus died and Boudica and their daughters were not allowed to inherit the kingdom. Boudica raised an army that was joined by people from other Iron Age tribes including the Trinovantes. They made their way to Colchester because of its status as the Roman City of Victory. Once Boudica's army reached the town buildings were burnt and people were killed. The Temple of Claudius was attacked with many Roman people inside who were seeking safety. In 2014 a collection of Roman jewellery was recovered in the High Street from where it had been buried for safekeeping during this attack and burnt earth can still be seen underneath the city and in our One Square Mile today. Once Colchester was destroyed Boudica and the army moved on to London and St Albans.
Fenwick Hoard
Image courtesy of Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
This Roman silver bracelet and other jewellery was found in 2014 under the Fenwick store in the High Street. It was hidden for safekeeping by its owner when Boudica attacked Colchester but they never returned for it and it remained buried for the next 2000 years. This bracelet, known as an armilla, would have been given to male soldiers to recognise their bravery.
After the Boudican attack Roman Colchester was rebuilt and had a long and peaceful history. The town wall, approximately 2800 metres long, 2.4 metres wide and 6 metres high was built to protect Colonia Victricensis from any future attacks. Colchester was still an important place because of the Temple of Claudius. The theatre remained in use and within the walls the town was filled with shops, houses and public buildings. Mosaic floors from some of these can be seen such as the Berryfield and Lion Walk mosaics. By the early 4th century Roman Colchester was becoming a Christian town and archaeologists are very interested in the discovery of what might be a Roman church on Butt Road in our One Square Mile.
The Roman Wall
Roman wall in Camulodunum by Carole Raddato via flickr CCBYSA2.0
The walls around Colchester were built to protect the town after the Boudican revolt. The wall stretches 2,800 metres around Colchester and once stood nearly 6 metres high. There were originally six gates to let people in and out. Balkerne Gate and Duncan’s Gate remain today.
Berryfield Mosaic
Detail of Berryfield Mosaic Firstsite Colchester Essex by Mira66 via flickr CCBYSA2.0
This is a detail of the Berryfield Mosaic that was discovered in 1923. It was originally a dining room floor in a wealthy Roman person's house. The whole mosaic has a central rose design surrounded by four panels showing sea monsters chasing dolphins.
Butt Road Church
Image credit: Mike Quinn. Usage: CC BY-SA 2.0.
It is suggested that the remains here are a 4th century Roman building or early Christian church.
The Roman Circus was uncovered in 2000. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries this was the place in Roman Colchester for chariot racing and other spectacles like boxing and maybe even gladiator fights. Today we can see the starting gates that stood at one end of a racing track. As many as 8000 people could watch as teams of horses and chariots raced along one side, turned around sharply at the end to come back along the other side of a central barrier.
Roman Circus
Starting-gates by Carole Raddato via Wikimedia CCBYSA2.0
Artist impression of the Roman Circus of Camulodunum by Carole Raddato via Flickr CCBYSA2.0
The reconstructed starting-gates and part of the seating-stand of the circus, built precisely to the plan of the actual circus remains below ground, Roman Circus of Camulodunum, Colchester (UK)
The legacy of Roman Colchester is all around us in our One Square Mile.