Mildenhall Things to Do

The Colchester Castle museum has many exhibits of early life in and around Colchester. There is an exhibit of faith and religion and there is a model of what St. Botolph's Priory church may have looked like. Much different than the ruinous skeleton that stands today.

St Botolph's Priory was the first Augustinian priory built in this country, having authority over all other houses of the order in this country. It was founded between 1093 and 1100 and had thirteen inmates. The priory was built mainly from flint and re-used Roman bricks, this masonry then being completely covered with plaster and possibly painted to enhance its simple appearance. Now devoid of it's 12th century decoration, St Botolph's Priory looks very craggy with the exposed bricks. Sturdy circular piers run the length of the nave, and the arcading above is typically Norman. Looking at the archways along the front of the church on two levels, it is not difficult to imagine how ornate this would have been eight hundred years ago.1096 the town and castle passed to Eudo Dapifer who founded St John's Abbey and St Botolph's Priory outside the castle walls. Parts of these building survived not only the civil war but also the wrath of Henry VIII. The dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII in the 16th century, led to our St Botolph's Priory falling into decline. During the 18th and 19th centuries the nave of the priory church became a popular place for burials, causing ththe original floor level to rise.

The museum inside Colchester castle is very extensive. There is so much to see and is great hands on for kids.

It is open from 10am to 5pm at 4.80GBP for adults. There are exhibits of Roman mosaics, statues, and relics of medieval life in Colchester. And of course, the exit brings you right through the gift shop.

Constructed over the massive vaults of the ruined Temple of Claudius,it is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Built largely from stone and brick quarried from the old Roman town of Colchester, the castle is possibly the work of Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester. Gundulph was responsible for the design of the White Tower (the central Keep of the Tower of London) which is the only building in Britain with the same ground plan. Work on the castle is thought to have been started around 1076 and completed about 1126. The basic structure consists of a rectangular block with projecting towers at each corner. A prominent feature is the outline of battlements at first floor level, which appear to have been added rather hastily during construction when threatened by an attack from the Danes. Colchester Castle originally stood four storeys high, but the upper two floors have since been lost. By the 14th century the castle was only being used 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 finally fell to Parliamentarian forces and the two men were subsequently executed in the grounds behind the castle in 1648. An obelisk now marks the spot in the gardens.

Colchester is one of the most historic towns in England. Excavated coins from the Trinovantian king Cunobelin's (died around 42AD) reign referring to his father Tasciovanus, not to mention pottery finds from 1000 years previous to that. Before the Roman conquest in 43AD the town was called Camulodunum ("Camulos" was a Celtic war god and "Dunum" was a Latin form of fort) it was the seat of power not just for the south east but as capital of the country ruled over and so named by King Cunobelinus. In 50ad after the successful conquest of Britain, Colchester became the most important town in Britain and also a colonia. The Colchester of today has been shaped by Boudicea's sacking of the Roman town in AD6. Boudicea the daughter of King Prasutagas ruler of what is now East Anglia rose up in revolt. Colchester which was mainly timber buildings was burnt to the ground.

As any typical High Street many restaurants, trendy pubs, and cafes as well as plenty of shopping is available. There is also the Colchester Hippodrome, very active with popular DJ's and local clubbers.

.These round towers are almost entirely in East Anglia; 172 in the region. The likelihood is that the first towers were added to existing places of worship in a trend which began to take shape around 900AD and was accelerated by King Athelstan (924-939), first King of all England. Their shape is a product of the shortage of building stone in an area where soft glacial deposits almost completely obscure the rocks below. Apart from limited sandstone in north-west Norfolk, the nearest workable stone is in Northamptonshire and, back in the 10th and 11th centuries, transportation being what it was, - or wasn't - Saxon builders mostly had to make do with flint of which there was plenty. The problem with flint is making quoins - or corners.

The ruins of an early 12th century defended manor house within a shallow rectangular moat, stand in a field beside the church. Built by Hugh de Plais in 1130, it was abandoned by late 14th century. The use of flint in the construction of the castle is clearly visible. A feature of many of the early forts and castles built using flint is the absence of square corners, as unknapped flint is difficult to fashion.

Over 25 hectares of land is covered in beautifully manicured gardens. There are a few lakes to walk around as well. There are many different types of trees that cover the ground and placards describing scientific names for most of them. There is a small tram that will take you through the gardens and plenty of benches for lounging. Admission to the gardens alone is 4.50GBP.