Colchester sweatshirt  Colchester sweatshirts

Colchester castle

Constructed over the vaults of the Temple of Claudius, Colchester castle represents the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Measuring approximately 46 metres x 34 metres and built largely from stone and brick quarried from the old Roman town, Colchester castle is believed to be the work of Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester. Work on Colchester castle lasted for 50 years and is believed to have started around 1076. Colchester castle consists of a rectangular block with a tower at each corner, and a semi-circular apse on the south end of the east elevation, and, the now two storey construction was originally four. The first floor battlements are thought to be an addition as a result of threatened attacks from the Danes.

Colchester castle does not have a history of conflicts apart from a brief period during the reign of King John when it was held for three months by a French garrison.  The French were allies to English Barons in their struggle with the King in 1216, leading up to the signing of the Magna Carta. Eventually Colchester castle was repossessed by the Crown. By the 14th century Colchester castle was used mainly as a prison and by 1637 the roof of the Great Hall had collapsed. During the Civil War Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were held at Colchester castle, having seized the town and declaring it a Royalist stronghold. Following a 12-week siege, Colchester castle finally fell to Parliamentarian forces and the two men were subsequently executed in 1648 in the grounds behind the castle.

In 1629 Colchester castle was purchased from the crown by a local businessman John Wheeler who intended to demolish it and sell off the raw materials to builders. Wheeler removed the upper two storeys but found the project unprofitable and ceased the demolition. In 1727 Colchester castle was bought as a wedding gift for local man Charles Gray, who later became a Colchester MP. Gray restored the south front adding the tiled roof and dome as well as a study and library. The crypt was opened to the public in 1860 as a museum, then in the 1930s the local council acquired the building and grounds and set about further restoration, in 1983 a 9 year building project began to stabilise the old castle Keep and today Colchester castle houses the Colchester and Essex museum.