EAST ANGLIA: ROMANS & SAXONS
Once an important Iron Age centre, Colchester rose to become Britain’s first Roman town in AD 43 following Claudius’ invasion of our island. Roman Colchester, Camulodunum, developed into a settlement of immense strategic importance and today the town still boasts extensive reminders of this ancient past, including the city walls and gates, a late Roman church and the vestiges of a Temple of Claudius preserved under the great Norman castle.
The castle, itself one of the country’s most historic buildings, houses a museum with significant collections of Iron Age and Roman material, ranging from coins struck by King Cunobelin prior to the Roman invasion to the Colchester Vase (circa AD 175), one of Roman Britain’s most outstanding pieces of ceramic art. In addition to the Roman remains, an Anglo-Saxon church, Trinity, dating from around AD 1000, still survives.
Beyond Colchester, the Anglo-Saxon village at West Stow has been fully reconstructed following excavations in the 1970s and offers a unique insight into early English settlements in East Anglia. Our tour will conclude with a visit to Sutton Hoo, one of the most extensive royal Anglo-Saxon burial sites in England. Excavations in 1939 revealed an immense burial chamber and a 90-ft ship enshrined under a great mound, whilst more recent digs have provided further insight into the customs of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.
Our base will be the Marks Tey Hotel (with indoor swimming pool), conveniently located west of Colchester.
This tour will be led by Mark Corney, BA, FSA, a specialist in Roman history and presenter on Channel Four’s Time Team. An honorary research fellow at Bristol University, Mark is a former investigator with the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.
Itinerary
Day 1Tour assembles 1600 at Marks Tey Hotel, near Colchester, for two nights. Evening: introductory lecture.
Day 2Walking tour of Colchester: Roman city wall, Balkerne Gate, Butt Road (late Roman Church), Colchester Castle Museum (remains of 1st century AD Temple of Claudius incorporated into foundations), Trinity Anglo-Saxon Church.
Day 3West Stow Anglo-Saxon village, Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon burial ground and visitor centre. Tour disperses 1630 at hotel.
Cost includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast & dinner, excursions & admissions (except EH & NT properties).
Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £40.
