1

The trail starts at Balkerne Gate, which used to be the West Gate of the town in Roman times, and is one of the best-preserved Roman gateways in Britain. The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, and Colchester became a town for retired Roman soldiers. The road beyond the gateway is a modern by-pass, but beside it you can see the original Roman walls.

2

Walk towards the town centre along Balkerne Passage and you cannot miss 'Jumbo', the town's most famous landmark. It is a Victorian water-tower which took its name from a famous elephant sold to a circus in 1882, the year of the tower's construction.

3

oGo up the hill into the High Street, one of the main streets during Roman times, past the Town Hall, and turn left into West Stockwell Street. Walk down to Northgate Street and back up East Stockwell Street and you will see some fine mediaeval and Georgian houses, most of which have been restored. This area is known as the Dutch Quarter because it is where Flemish weavers lived when they fled from the Netherlands in the 16th century. They helped to improve the Colchester cloth industry.

4

Turn left along St Helen's Lane. Near St Helen's Chapel, on the corner, are the remains of one of the walls of a Roman Theatre.

5

Next on the itinerary are the Castle and Museum, so our route takes us back to the High Street and left a short way, to the gates of Castle Park. The Castle, which dates from the 11th century, was built on the site of a Roman temple. Now there is a museum inside, where you will find a wonderful collection of Roman antiquities and a lot of information about Roman Colchester.

6

Leaving the Castle, turn left down East Hill to look at the Siege House. During the Civil War, Colchester was defended by a Royalist Army and was besieged for eleven weeks before finally surrendering. Bullet-holes made during the siege can still be seen clearly in the walls.