Colchester
Colchester photos (179 available)
Colchester maps (2 available)
Map of Essex
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Colchester books (17 available)
Colchester Photographic Memories
Paperback
Braintree Town and City Memories
Hardback
Braintree Town and City Memories
Paperback
- 6 photos on Colchester appear in 3 Frith books - View photos of Colchester
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Colchester and Essex
Colchester memories
Read and share memories of Colchester and Essex inspired by Frith photos
So sad
This picture of High Street is very dear to me because it is how I remembered it when I was a boy in the 1940s & 50s. In 1955 I was called up to do my national sevice and was posted abroard, when I returned, to my horror, the church in the foreground had been demolished.
Contributed by roger reynolds
Colchester
While we were living in Colchester between 1955 and 1958, I was confirmed at this church at Lexden, Colchester. I had little memory of the church, but then while looking through the photos for Colchester I came across this photo much to my delight as this was where I was confirmed. Colchester Castle grounds was a beautiful place to walk through. Every year the Army Tattoo was displayed in the grounds too.
Contributed by Mary Back
Happy Summer Days at the Pool
This photo' reminded me of those carefree summer days when we would cycle from Myland to the pool, leave our bikes, unlocked, in a heap outside, pay our 6d and go to the dank, cold, changing room under the bridge.
The girls had to cross the end of the pool by a boardwalk to their changing room on the other side.
There were high diving boards so the pool was about ten feet deep at the deep end. We discovered that there was a hole in the underwater wire netting beneath the boardwalk where we could dive down to come up under the boardwalk to bang on the boards as the girls walked over,
We spent many hours sunbathing and swimming, ...read more here
Contributed by First Name Last Name
Colchester 1960s
Lived Colchester late 1950s to late 1960s. Fond memories of picnics in the castle grounds with my young sister and baby brother. Boats on the lake. Military tattoo. Returned after years away and though there was change, much remained the same - thank goodness.
Contributed by Haze Perrott
Extracts From Colchester & Essex books
These views show the town from the 1890s to the
1960s; they record both the many changes that
have taken place and also, paradoxically, how
much of the old town survives. The medieval
street plan survives virtually intact, much of it
based on the Roman town laid out in the first
century AD. The main axis of the principal roads
consists of the Roman east-west artery, now the
High Street, and one of the Roman north-south
roads, now North Hill and Head Street. Other
narrower and more winding streets and lanes
lead off these, such as West Stockwell Street or
Culver Street.
An extract from from"Colchester Photographic Memories".
The fine Georgian tower
of St Peter’s church was
built in 1758, replacing the
medieval one which was
damaged by an earthquake
in 1692. The gabled build-
ing on the left was demol-
ished in the 1920s for The
Waggon and Horses pub.
An extract from from"Colchester Photographic Memories".
This view looks north to
the junction with High
Street. All the taller
houses on the right were
replaced by what is now
Debenhams depart-
ment store. Amid the
Georgian and early 19th-
century fronts on the
left, a tall interloper of
the 1880s survives.
An extract from from"Colchester Photographic Memories".
The astonishing thing about Colchester Castle
is the fact that it is built around the podium of
the great Roman temple dedicated to the God-
Emperor Claudius, whose legions had begun
the conquest of Britain in AD43. This vaulted
structure, roughly 80ft by 11ft, has two parallel
stone vaults and massive walls that formed
the platform for the temple, which was the
centrepiece of the colonia for retired legionary
soldiers. It was burnt down by Queen Boudicca
(or Boadicea) of the Iceni in AD61, along with
the rest of the town, as a symbol of Roman
oppression.
An extract from from"Colchester Photographic Memories".
This view was taken before the grounds opened as a public park, and it shows not only the high ground level
around the keep but also the poor state of the stonework. It was not until 1920 that Lord and Lady Cowdray
bought the castle and grounds, and donated them to the town.
An extract from from"Colchester Photographic Memories".