  Colchester town information Colchester town, England Colchester is a lively English town in Essex, East Anglia with a population of just over 100,000. It is believed to be England's oldest town and the foundation of Roman Britain. Occupied over 2000 years ago during the Roman conquest Colchester was initially made the Roman capital of Britain. The English warrior Queen Boadicea forced the Romans out of the town in 61AD. To this day the town is still an important military garrison and is currently home to the 16 Air Assault Brigade. One of the town’s most important sights is the symbolic Colchester castle situated in an area of park and gardens in close proximity to today’s main high street. The Norman castle built on the site of a Roman temple dates back to the 11th century and is a popular attraction. Colchester's interesting and vibrant history is mapped out in the town’s museums and in the differing architectural styles that grace the town. The award winning Colchester Castle museum is the town’s principal museum and shows it’s history dating back as far as the stone age. Close by the former home of 19th century MP Charles Gray houses the Hollytrees social history museum. The Natural History museum is located in the former All Saints Church and in the heart of the town is Tymperleys clock museum.    Colchester University the University of Essex is situated in over 200 acres of beautiful parkland at Wivenhoe Park in Colchester and is one of the UK's leading academic institutions with an international reputation for research and teaching. With over 7,000 students from more than 130 different countries it has 18 departments spanning the Humanities, Social Sciences and Science and Engineering. In recent assessments Essex has regularly ranked among the top twelve UK universities for the quality of its research, with many of its departments rated as 'outstanding' by international standards. Visitors may take advantage of the facilities available at Wivenhoe House, the original focus for the park, which has now become the University's hotel and conference centre. The campus has shops, banks and restaurants as well as four squash courts, a gym, climbing wall and eighteen hole frisbee golf course. The Arts are also catered for with the University theatre, Exhibition Gallery, and an extensive programme of musical and dramatic events.   Colchester United football club Colchester is home to Colchester United Football Club, an English professional football league club. click for Colchester United history, latest news, fixtures and results   Colchester Rugby and Cricket clubs The Colchester Rugby Club, formed in 1925, have a particularly strong youth section and have won awards for their community and mini rugby programmes. They have 4 sides and a veterans squad playing weekly league rugby. The club is based in the Mile End area of Colchester. The Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club are based in the centre of Colchester in Catchpool Road, their 1st XI currently compete in League cricket where they play their home matches in the wonderful setting of the lower castle park in Colchester.    Famous Faces The Colchester area has been the birthplace of many notable people including William Gilberd the Royal physician who pioneered investigations into (and coined the name) ‘electricity’. landscape artist John Constable was born in the area as was the composer of the nursery rhyme twinkle, twinkle little star! The nursery rhyme old King Cole was also based on a story about Colchester. In recent times the town has produced such celebrities as the pop group Blur, Jay (Jamiroquai) Kay, west end star Darren Day and tv presenter Dermot O’Leary.   Colchester sweatshirt | shop | collection | win sweatshirt | wallpaper |
