Essex Society for Archaeology & History Annual Archaeology & Local History Symposium All welcome, both members and non-members , please join us! £10 (including sandwich lunch, tea & coffee) This year’s theme is post-medieval. Our guest speakers will focus on Essex and Colchester topics: Peter Jones - 'Colchester Watermills Tim Murphy and Mark Baister - [...]
Romans had a complex attitude towards gladiators, admiring and despising those unfortunate enough to become them. To coincide with the release of a certain film sequel, Richard Bale will revisit the topic of gladiators, focusing on Colchester.
Join historian Richard Bale for an engaging talk on Colchester’s Roman Temples and Theatres, exploring the town’s ancient civic buildings and their role in religious, political, and community life. Discover how Colchester, once Camulodunum, the first Roman capital of Britain, showcased both Roman influence and local traditions through its temples and theatres. The talk will highlight the use of temples for imperial cult worship, civic rituals, and local devotion, and examine how theatres served beyond entertainment, hosting festivals, performances, and public gatherings. Drawing on archaeological evidence and historical accounts, Bale will provide insights into the enduring legacy of Roman Colchester.
CAT Lecture Series 2025
Camulodunum: What is it, Where is it, and How Do We Know?
Begin your journey in the Late Iron Age with a deep dive into Camulodunum, the tribal capital of the Trinovantes and one of the earliest Roman settlements in Britain.
Drawing on decades of excavation, this talk explores how we define the ancient oppidum, what we know about its layout and life, and why it remains central to understanding Roman Colchester.
Speaker: Howard Brooks
Please note : This series of talks describe and discuss ancient life from an archaeological and historical perspective. Due to the nature of the period some aspects of this topic may cause offence to a modern audience. The intention of the presenter is to be informative and to represent the past as accurately as possible, both for its good elements and bad.