Colchester Castle; one of the finest archaeological collections in the country and brilliant for kids.
/This is the largest Norman Keep in Europe built on top of the remains of the great temple of Claudius, the conquered England. Once called the capital of England and the place destroyed by Queen Boudicca in AD 60, Colchester has seen some awesome events and the castle has items from all of them. Visitors are pointed to loads of things to touch and for children, at least 4 dressing up areas including Roman shields and helmets. An audio visual displaying the prison section eerily takes you back to Bloody Mary’s burning protestants at the stake and Matthew Hopkins Witchfinder inquisition. Plus there is the opportunity to participate in a chariot race!
Everyone who likes history is in for a treat at Colchester castle.
You will be taken on a journey from prehistoric times up to the 20th century.
Colchester in the the Iron Age would have had huts like the one brilliantly recreated below.
In Roman Colchester, on this very spot, you would have seen the impressive great Temple of Claudius (the emperor who successfully conquered England). When Boudicca’s rebellion against Roman dominance took place, the temple went up in flames with many of the Romans hiding inside being incinerated!
Model of Claudius’ temple built here before the castle
When William the Conqueror successfully won the Battle Hastings in 1066, he was hated, rebellions broke out and so, for the safety of his reign, he built castles. One of the earliest and biggest was Colchester Castle.
Let’s go inside and go on our journey through time.
Having bought your ticket find the stairs at the end of the museum and climb up to the first floor.
In the first case you come across are these Bronze Age “Socketed Axeheads”. They are in remarkable condition and illustrate amazing technology of at least 2,200 years ago. The handles have rotted away but the heads would not look out of place in a DIY superstore.
If they did not impress you, then this will, the earliest known bronze cauldron from Britain.
This is the Sheepen Cauldron and is dated somewhere between 1275 and 1140 BC. It was used in big celebration or religious feasts. This cauldron however, was deliberately buried on its side and it has been suggested that its burial was probably associated with some religious ceremony.
This is known as a firedog and was found in a grave of a wealthy Briton who died between 45-65 AD. It was made of iron and its job was to hold logs off the ground allowing a better circulation of air for them to burn.
Far from being “Barbarians” as the Romans called them, the inhabitants of this area, the Trinovantes, had developed coins to create a modern economy. It was not based on simply swapping or bartering goods.
The Trinovantes and Catuvellauni tribes eventually united and from AD 10-40, they were led by King Cunobelin. Here are some of his coins. Rather sophisticated for a so-called “Barbarian”.
Now for some Roman Highlights
You can see the tombstone of a centurion, Marcus Favonius Facilis, the earliest Roman sculpture from Britain and you are invited to touch a painted replica. (It is thought that the original was painted something like this). Marcus was part of the Twentieth Legion based in Colchester and died soon after Claudius’ successful invasion of Britain.
Here is the Tombstone of Longinus and a painted replica to touch.What do we know about him? Apparently, he was born in far away Bulgaria, was a member of the First Thracian Cavalry, participated in the invasion of Britain and died at the age of forty.
A doctor’s grave, dated AD 40- 50 from Stanway (west of Colchester) has been reconstructed and includes his surgical instruments.
You can give your opinion on Boudicca!
Treasure found buried near Fenwick’s department store. When archaeologists dug in this area, they discovered the burnt remains of a house destroyed at the time of the Boudiccan Revolt. Buried under the floor of the house was a collection of gold, silver and bronze coins, rings, earrings and bracelets. These were probably buried in a hurry to prevent Boudicca seizing them but nobody came back to reclaim them after the fight was over.
Burnt glass from Boudica’s sacking of Colchester
Burnt coins from Boudicca’s Revolt.
Why did Boudicca rebel against the Romans?
When the Romans invaded England in AD43 , Prasutagus, King of the Iceni tribe, made a deal that he would be loyal to the Romans if they allowed him to remain king. When Prasutagus died, Boudicca believed that her daughters and the Roman emperor would share the government of her tribe as dictated in her husband’s will. However, the Romans thought otherwise with Boudicca’s two daughters not featuring in their plans and Prasutagus’ property being seized. When Boudicca protested, she was publicly stripped and flogged and allegedly, she had to witness the rape of her two daughters by Roman soldiers. In AD 60 or 61, this resulted in Boudicca’s Iceni tribe along with their neighbouring allies, the Trinovantes, rebelling whilst the Roman governor, Gaius Suetonius Paullinus, was leading a campaign in North Wales. Other tribes soon joined in, the Roman Ninth Legion was then defeated and Colchester, the Roman capital of England, was destroyed. Colchester was also a key target because Roman veterans had settled there and had mistreated the locals together with the fact that the huge temple to the former was Emperor Claudius, was financed by extracting money from the local inhabitants causing a lot of resentment. Boudicca then went on to cause destruction in St Albans and London, killing between 70 000-80 000 before finally being defeated by Paullinus. Boudicca’s initial success was so great that , some historians have stated that Nero considered withdrawing from England altogether. This was to be her last victory because despite outnumbering Paullinus, her armies suffered a major defeat and soon afterwards, Boudicca died, possibly from suicide.
You will discover an amazing collection of Roman glass
A rather gruesome exhibit is this case with its slave shackles
Bloody Mary ordered 23 people held at Colchester Gaol to be burnt at the stake.
One of the last places on your tour of the museum is the recreated gaol and a scene where silhouettes of protestant prisoners are shown doomed to die for their religion. In Mary’s reign approximately 275 people, mostly from South-East England refused to convert to Catholicism and were therefore burnt at the stake. Queen Mary was born a catholic to Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. When Catherine showed no more signs of becoming pregnant and therefore bearing a son, Henry decided that his marriage was unlawful and he should divorce her. His appeal to the Pope for his marriage to be annulled met with failure and so out of desperation, Henry took England out of the Roman Catholic Church and created the Church of England with himself as its head! With no pope to deny him a divorce, Henry was now free to marry the woman he had become infatuated with, the Protestant Anne Boleyn. His poor treatment of Catherine and Princess Mary only served to reinforce Mary’s catholic beliefs and so, when she became queen in 1553, it was not long before England was once again a Roman Catholic country. The country she took over from her dead brother, Edward VI had become very protestant and so many people chose to defy Queen Mary by remaining protestant, even if it meant being burnt at the stake. To that end, 23 people from Colchester refused to convert and so were executed.
Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General
In 1642, England was in turmoil. The Civil War had begun and in some cases, it was neighbour against neighbour and sons against their fathers. Out of this chaos came a Puritan called Matthew Hopkins. Puritans were extreme protestants who believed in practising their religion strictly according to the wording of the Bible and carrying out, what they believed was, God’s will. Hopkins came to believe that it was his mission to save the people of East Anglia from the evils of witchcraft and proclaimed himself the Witchfinder General. Anyone opposing Hopkins was quickly accused of being a witch, a difficult charge to overturn in such distressing times. In 1645, Hopkins was invited to use Colchester as his base to interrogate 32 women accused of witchcraft.
How did Hopkins get confessions from his victims?
Hopkins and his assistant, John Stearne, made certain that whilst held captive, the accused would only be fed bread and water and would be deprived of sleep. He believed that under guard, the witches would not be able to feed their “familiars” with blood and so would be deprived of their powers. Familiars were creatures such as black cats that assisted witches in their horrible deeds but needed blood from the witches on a daily basis! After a few days of sleep deprivation, the accused could be coaxed into confessing anything. A horrible way to treat accused people but this was not as horrible as the torturous methods applied across Europe! Having confessed, the accused would be put on trial, Hopkins would present evidence for the prosecution and the accused would be found guilty. Of his 32 accused in Colchester, 19 were put on trial in Chelmsford and found guilty. They were then sentenced to death by hanging. Across East Anglia he was responsible for the execution of over 100 people, mainly women!
What other methods of proof did the witchfinder general use?
Apparently, witches did not bleed or show any mark when pricked with a pin or a knife. Needless to say, to ensure that he was right, Hopkins had a knife that had a retractable blade and so it never drew any blood, astounding all witnesses! Another trick was a variation of the old witches’ ducking stool. The accused witches were tied up and tossed into a pool that had been blessed. The idea being that if they were innocent, they would sink but probably die in the process with the reward that they would get to heaven! If they floated, the water had obviously not accepted them and therefore, they were guilty. Added to this, it has been suggested that some women’s voluminous dresses would inflate as they entered the water and therefore, they would automatically float, proving their guilt! Witnesses for the prosecution were easy to find, with people making accusations to avoid being accused themselves or making accusations wishing to avenge an earlier argument or dispute with the accused.
Why will children love this museum?
Loads of Interaction
Modern technology. Children can use these tablets to answer a series of questions they move around the museum.
A chariot race simulator. Holding the reins actually controls the horses. Unfortunately, it is very easy to turn the horses around and race in the wrong direction.
Great graphics and loads of things to touch.
Make a mosaic
Essential Information
Getting there
By train. It is a 20 minute walk from Colchester North train station and only 8 minutes walk from Colchester Town train station.
By car aim for the High Street and park at ”All Saints’ House”. (See google maps to discover this car park) This is very close. Be wary of the NCP car parks in the town, they seem rather expensive
Ticket prices
Adult (inc. Seniors): £10.00
Child (aged 4-16): £5.25
Student: £6.75
Qualifying concession: £5.25*
2 x adults plus 1 x child or concession: £23.00
1 x adult plus 3 x children or concession: £23.00
2 x adults plus 2 x children or concessions: £27.00
Opening Times
Monday – Saturday
10.00am – 5.00pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Sunday
11.00am – 5.00pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Follow us on social media
Relevant articles
The old phrase “A picture is worth a thousand words” is very appropriate when looking at the magnificent Wenhaston doom painting. In the medieval world where few people could read, a painting of the events of the “Last Judgement” would carefully show what was going to happen to souls when the world would come to an end. This would guide people to manage their lives to ensure a wonderful future. The picture of Hell left no one in doubt that sinners would have a horrible future. The doom painting at Wenhaston is in remarkable condition with very little missing or incomprehensible.