A TIMELINE OF COLCHESTER
By Tim Lambert
44 The Romans build a fort on the site of Colchester
49 The Roman army moves on but a town is founded on the site of the fort
54 A stone temple is built to the Emperor Claudius at Camulodunum (The Roman name for Colchester)
60 Boudica leads a rebellion and her men burn Colchester. However after her rebellion is crushed the town is rebuilt.
200 Colchester has a population of about 10-12,000
c. 350 Colchester is in decline
407 The Roman army leaves Britain and towns are abandoned
917 The English recapture Colchester from the Danes. (The Danes probably used it as a stronghold because of its Roman walls). Under English rule Colchester becomes a flourishing market town once again.
1086 Colchester has 419 houses and perhaps 2,000 inhabitants
1095 St Johns Abbey is founded
c. 1100 The Normans build a castle at Colchester. St Botolphs Priory is founded
1189 Colchester is given a charter (a document giving the people certain rights)
1300 Colchester has a population of about 4,000
1413 Colchester is given a new charter
1538 Henry VII closes the abbey and the priory
1555-58 During the reign of Queen Mary 23 Protestants are burned in Colchester
1565 Dutch refugees come to Colchester
1591 Bourne Mill is built
1603-04 Plague stalks Colchester
1635 Colchester gains a mayor
1665-66 Plague strikes Colchester again. The population of Colchester is about 8,000.
1648 During the Second Civil War royalists capture Colchester. Parliamentary troops lay siege and eventually the royalists surrender.
1718 Hollytrees is built
1764 Colchester gains its first theatre
1776 The Minories is built
1801 The population of Colchester is about 11,500
1818 Essex County Hospital is built
1819 Colchester is lit by gas
1837 St Botolphs Church is built
1843 The railway reaches Colchester
1856 The Garrison Church is built. The first cemetery opens
1880's The council begins building a piped water supply
1884 An earthquake strikes Colchester
1892 Castle Park opens
1894 The first public library opens
1901 The population of Colchester is about 38,000. Colchester gains electric light.
1902 Colchester Town Hall is built
1904 Electric trams begin running in Colchester
1910 The first cinema opens
1929 Hollytrees Museum opens
1957 A Natural History Museum opens
1961 The University of Essex opens
1974 The Social History Museum opens
1976 Lion Walk Precinct opens
1985 Colchester General Hospital opens
1987 Culver Street Precinct opens
1990 St Johns Walk opens
1995 Bosbeks Archaeological Park opens