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There's something different about Essex. It's not just the beautiful countryside, or the friendly people and great food - it's also the history. From Colchester Castle to Christchurch Mansion and Garden Museum, many places in Essex are steeped in history for those who want to learn about the past. Colchester is one of those places with a rich history, so read on for our list of 10 must-visit landmarks!
Colchester Castle was built to replace the former Anglo-Saxon burh on the same site. Work began in 1070 and it was completed in 1090 by William the Conqueror.
The castle played an important role in several civil wars, including those between King Stephen and Matilda, Henry III and Simon de Montfort, and Edward III against his barons (the so-called Barons War), who were supported by Queen Isabella; during this period Colchester became known as "The Key To England" because it could easily be defended against attack by sea or land if it fell into enemy hands - which it did twice: firstly when Edward III attacked again after they had reached an agreement with him at Shrewsbury; secondly when Richard II captured it after defeating Henry Bolingbroke at Boroughbridge in 1322.
Colchester Castle Museum is the site of two Roman forts, built in AD 43 and 76 respectively. It was also built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and became a prison during the English Civil War (1648). The oldest part of this museum is its Norman keep or tower, which can be seen from outside as you approach Colchester Town Hall.
The museum contains exhibits on themes such as Anglo-Saxon archaeology, military history and local life throughout history. Castle Park is nearby if you want to check it as well.
The Colchester Town Hall is a Grade II listed building and it was built to replace the old town hall which was destroyed by fire in 1875. The new building was designed by John Brown, the architect of The Royal Exchange in London.
The current Colchester Town Hall opened its doors on 12 October 1876, with an opening ceremony led by Prince Leopold (later King Leopold III) who was then Duke of Albany and Commander-in-Chief of Ireland at that time.
Colchester Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the UK, dating back to 1836 when it was founded by Edward Cross. The zoo is located on the outskirts of Colchester and houses over 100 species of animals from around the world. It's open all year round so you can visit at any time! There are some great attractions for children including Tiger Territory and Jungle Kingdom which are great fun for all ages.
Essex Police Station Museum is a museum in Colchester, Essex, England. It is housed in the former Essex Police headquarters building and tells the story of policing in Essex from the early 19th century.
It is run by Colchester Museums Service which also runs other sites across Colchester including; Castle Museum (a medieval fortification), The Dockyard (an open-air museum), Phoenix Arts Centre & Museum of Childhood at Home.
St. Mary's Church and the Tomb of Sir Thomas More in the Churchyard
This is one of the most popular historical landmarks in Colchester, as it contains a tomb that was built for Sir Thomas More by his son-in-law John Rastell and wife Margaret Roper. It was designed by Hans Holbein (who also painted Henry VIII's portrait). The inscription on this tomb reads: "Here lies Thomas Mores body who died at Chelsea 1535".
Christchurch Mansion is the oldest building in Colchester. It was built by Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, in 1510 and has been a museum since 1925. The house contains furniture from various periods of its history, including Tudor times and Victorian times. There is also an extensive collection of archaeological finds from around Colchester that date back 12,000 years ago up until the present day.
The gardens at Christchurch are open all year round so visitors can enjoy them whatever the weather!
Colchester's Roman Bath House and Pump Room is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in Britain. It's part of a larger complex, which includes a temple, an amphitheatre and other buildings. The baths are thought to have been built around AD 200.
The remains of the bathhouse are now open to the public as part of Colchester Castle Museum. Visitors can see where people would have entered or left through doors on either side; there are also remains from where water was stored before being channelled into baths via pipes through heaters (called hypocausts).
Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) is a co-educational independent day school for children aged 7 to 18, located in the centre of Colchester. The school was founded in 1550, making it the oldest grammar school in England. It has been known as "Colchester Royal Grammar School" since 1677, although it was not until 1782 that it became an academy and was granted its royal charter by King George III.
Colchester Royal Grammar School is situated on two sites: one is located on High Street North and the other at St Botolph's Church Hall on Botolphs Road South near Colchester General Hospital. The High Street North site contains two blocks - A block which houses classrooms for science subjects along with some art rooms such as music practice rooms; B block which houses ICT suites; art rooms including a pottery room & graphics room; dance studio & music rehearsal space plus library facilities upstairs above A Block entrance
The John O'Gaunt Hotel is a historic hotel and restaurant located in West Bergholt, Essex. It was built in the 16th century as a manor house for Sir William Darrell. The building is Grade II* listed and has been used as an inn since at least 1763 when it was run by Thomas Hawkins.
The John O'Gaunt's dining room dates from 1905 when it was extended from its original size by architect Charles Rennie MacIntosh to accommodate more customers during the summer months.
Colchester is a great place to visit and there are many things to do. If you're thinking of visiting Colchester, then these 10 historical landmarks are a must-see. If you would like to know more about our courses here in Colchester, check out our website for more information https://ilcentres.com/location/colchester
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