Colchester is well known as a Roman city but few people realise that its history stretches back well beyond Roman times having been an ancient Iron Age settlement, once ruled by Cuneobelin of the Trivantes which was established here long before the Romans arrived in Britain. Other than a few earthen mounds there is little from this period that has survived in the landscape, although numerous artefacts have been discovered over the years and an impressive collection is on display in the local Castle Museum.
Subsequently the Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and they constructed a fort on a piece of high ground in around 44 AD. The fort was surrounded by a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top. The Romans left the fort about 5 or 6 years later. The Romans considered that the local tribes were now peaceful under roman rule and that the area was safe. Subsequently, the old fort was taken over by civilians and gradually became a town. In about 54 AD a stone temple was built to Emperor Claudius and Roman Colchester was called Camulodunum, from the name of the Celtic god of war Camulos and the Roman word dunum meaning fort.
In the place of the military gate at the western entrance to the fort, a monumental arch was built, to elebrate the Claudian conquest of Britain. Later, when the city acquired walls, this was incorporated into the western gate of the city and though nothing of the actual arch now remains, what is left of the gate and its walls still stand at the Balkerne Gate.
It is believed that the temple is the site that the Normans built their castle on following the Conquest. Construction of the castle began in 1076, probably under the supervision of Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester. William I ordered a stone castle on the strategic route between East Anglia and London. Due to a lack of local quality stone, the Norman builders plundered Roman Colchester to build their keep.
Subsequently the Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD and they constructed a fort on a piece of high ground in around 44 AD. The fort was surrounded by a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top. The Romans left the fort about 5 or 6 years later. The Romans considered that the local tribes were now peaceful under roman rule and that the area was safe. Subsequently, the old fort was taken over by civilians and gradually became a town. In about 54 AD a stone temple was built to Emperor Claudius and Roman Colchester was called Camulodunum, from the name of the Celtic god of war Camulos and the Roman word dunum meaning fort.
In the place of the military gate at the western entrance to the fort, a monumental arch was built, to elebrate the Claudian conquest of Britain. Later, when the city acquired walls, this was incorporated into the western gate of the city and though nothing of the actual arch now remains, what is left of the gate and its walls still stand at the Balkerne Gate.
It is believed that the temple is the site that the Normans built their castle on following the Conquest. Construction of the castle began in 1076, probably under the supervision of Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester. William I ordered a stone castle on the strategic route between East Anglia and London. Due to a lack of local quality stone, the Norman builders plundered Roman Colchester to build their keep.