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Colchester Roman Circus

4 February 20214 February 2021 By Liam Heatherson

It is well-known that Colchester has strong origins in the Roman conquest of Britain in 43 AD. It was the first Roman legionary fortress established in Britain; named Camulodunum. The legionaries moved away around around 49 AD and the settlement became a ‘colonia’ – a residential colony. Camulodunum was the Roman capital of Britain. The town was attacked and destroyed by Boudica’s Celtic rebellion in 61 AD. Its town walls, which survive in part, were built as part of the town’s reconstruction between c.65 to 80 AD.

In 2004, the Colchester Archaeological Trust found the buried remains of a Roman circus underneath part of the old garrison. A circus was a chariot race track and this is the only one found in Britain. Part of it is now left exposed in a park, and clear screens and a metal frame allow you to envisage the scale and appearance of this once enormous structure. The circus has a centre which you can visit Mondays to Saturdays 9am till 4pm. A nearby children’s play area reflects the ovular shape of the track.

Sources: Wikipedia, Colchester’s Roman Circus (https://www.romancircus.co.uk/)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

This entry was posted in Location Report
  • Ancient History
  • Colchester
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Today we had a great day out taking a look at the Today we had a great day out taking a look at the Maunsell Forts in the Thames Estuary and also the wreck of the SS Montgomery. The forts were built to protect London during the Second World War however the Montgomery wasn’t supposed to finish its journey here. The ship ran aground on a sandbank with 1,400 tonnes of explosives on board. Over the next couple of months the masts on top will be removed however the 500m exclusion zone will remain. 

#derelict #abandoned #seaforts #redsandsforts #ssmontgomery #history #localhistory #militaryhistory #worldwartwo #riverthames #fuji #fujifilmxpro3
Tilbury Fort ⚔️ #tilbury #tilburyfort #museum Tilbury Fort ⚔️

#tilbury #tilburyfort #museum #englishheritage #fujifilm #fort #essex #militaryhistory
Yesterday we travelled to East Tilbury to go on a Yesterday we travelled to East Tilbury to go on a tour of the town and learn about the history of the former Bata Factory. Several buildings still remain from the days of the town being a shoe factory. When the town was being designed it was intended for the community to be self sufficient with farms, tennis courts, a hotel and even a cinema. 

Full set of photos on our Facebook Page. 

#easttilbury #tilbury #bata #batashoes #industrialdesign #industrialheritage #architecture
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