Colchester Archaeological Trust

02/10/2026

Ten weeks ago, we began an incredible community excavation on Mersea Island to record the Tudor Blockhouse at Cudmore Grove Country Park before coastal erosion claimed more of its story.

What followed was something truly special. We were overwhelmed by the support of local volunteers, veterans through Operation Nightingale and the wider community. Together, we uncovered a wealth of finds, shared knowledge, made lasting connections and helped preserve an important piece of local heritage.

The excavation may be over, but the work continues. Many volunteers are still joining us each week at Roman Circus House to help process the substantial quantity of artefacts uncovered during the project.

This fantastic project, organised by Place Services at Essex County Council, brought together members of the local community and veterans through Operation Nightingale. It was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and supported by Historic England through the Countryside Stewardship Heritage Service.

To everyone who took part, visited, shared their expertise or supported us along the way: thank you. Your contribution has helped preserve an important part of Mersea's history for future generations.

There is much more to come, and we look forward to sharing the story of the Tudor Blockhouse as the post-excavation work progresses.

Read the full blog here: https://catuk.org/incredible-community-excavation-on-mersea-island-to-record-the-tudor-blockhouse-at-cudmore-grove-country-park/

Cudmore Grove Country Park
Historic England
Operation Nightingale
Explore Essex
Essex County Council

14/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who visited the Roman Circus Visitor Centre on Saturday as part of the Heritage Open Days.

As an educational charity, we are proud to support initiatives that make heritage accessible to all. It was wonderful to welcome so many visitors and share the story of Roman Colchester!

Heritage Open Days
Colchester Roman Circus Visitor Centre

10/09/2026

Imagine the scene: AD 61. As Boudicca's forces descended on Roman Colchester, a family hurriedly hid their gold and silver beneath the floor of their home. ✨

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥.

Centuries later, archaeologists uncovered this remarkable hoard alongside the burnt remains of food and household items left exactly where they fell as the building burned. Together, these discoveries offer a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary people caught up in one of Britain's most famous historical events.

Join us for the final talk in our 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 series and discover how archaeology can uncover not only moments of catastrophe, but the stories of the people who lived through them.

🎟 Only a few tickets remain, so book now to avoid missing the final event in the series.

Key event details:
📆 Wednesday 16 September
🕖Doors open 6.45pm | Talk starts 7.30pm
📍Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester CO2 7GZ
🎟 Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-house-in-crisis-who-buried-the-fenwick-treasure-tickets-1989394614846?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

10/09/2026

We made the headlines again last week!

Thanks to the sharp eye of one of our archaeologists, we identified something rather unusual: a curated fossil within a Roman context.

The discovery raises intriguing questions about how people in Roman Britain viewed and collected objects from the past, reminding us that curiosity about history is not just a modern phenomenon.

Have you read the story yet? 👇👇

https://catuk.org/roman-colchester-discovery-is-the-earliest-known-deliberately-collected-ichthyosaur-fossil/

25/08/2026

On Saturday 22nd August we hosted our annual archaeology open day, covering the theme of life in Roman Britain as well as celebrating Colchester’s military history.

We were lucky to have the involvement from many groups of extraordinary re-enactors who helped support both our themes, whilst our team of staff were able to educate families about the archaeology we have uncovered through the many activities on hand. And of course, our recently launched exhibition The Lexden Lady was available for members of the public to engage and learn more about the incredible life and legacy of a high-status woman buried in a lead coffin during the late Roman period (exhibition sponsored by Fisher Jones Greenwood (FJG).

A big thank you to the:
• Colchester Roman Society
• Crimson Poppies – WW1 Nurses of Essex
• WW1 Medical Services Living History Society
• Colchester Historical Enactment Society
• Butser IX Legion
• And the Colchester Military Heritage Group for providing two amazing tours on the Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) and Calvary barracks.

If any attendees would like to give feedback on the event, we would be very grateful! Just complete the survey form via the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PZF68R8

Don’t forget to tag us in any photos you have from the event! 🙂

20/08/2026

The countdown is on! We are so excited to welcome everyone THIS Saturday for our CAT Annual Archaeology Day.

🕙 10:00am to 3:00pm

With sunshine on the horizon, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a packed day of archaeological activities, hands-on experiences and encounters with our incredible living historians.

The photos below offer just a glimpse of what's in store. Don't they look fantastic? We hope to see you there!





Colchester Roman Society

10/08/2026

🌘 A giant bite out of the Sun... and a chance to uncover hidden stories closer to home.

On the evening of August 12th (this Wednesday!), we'll witness the UK's most dramatic partial solar eclipse in nearly three decades. As the Moon slides across the Sun, daylight will fade, temperatures may dip, birds could fall silent, and for a few magical moments the world will feel strangely different.

And when you've finished looking up, why not look a little closer at the world around you?

Join us at the Roman Circus Visitor Centre for 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘳: 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯. Discover how historic buildings preserve the stories, secrets and lives of the people who inhabited them, often revealing details that archaeology beneath the ground can never tell us.

Whether you're fascinated by local history, archaeology, architecture, or simply enjoy a good story, this is a talk that will change the way you look at old buildings forever.

📅 Wednesday 12 August
🚪 Doors open 6.45pm | Talk starts 7.30pm
📍 Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Roman Circus Walk, Colchester CO2 7GZ
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/more-than-bricks-and-mortar-historic-buildings-and-the-lives-within-tickets-1989392382168?aff=erelpanelorg

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀𝗲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Through building recording and documentary research, archaeologists can uncover tangible connections between structures and their occupants,

06/08/2026

🏛️ 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙙𝙤 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥?

Less than one week to go! There are still some spaces available for our next installment in our Lecture Series; full details below.

Historic buildings are far more than bricks and mortar. They hold the stories of the people who lived, worked, loved, struggled and left their mark within them.

Join us for "𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙧: 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣", where Chris Lister of CAT, will reveal remarkable discoveries uncovered through building recording and historical research.

🔎 Discover: • A Colchester house connected to Daniel Defoe • A cottage with a surprisingly dark past • Soldiers' graffiti hidden within garrison buildings • A historic petting zoo... and its rather intriguing toilets!

Through these fascinating case studies, you'll see how buildings can preserve human stories that archaeology beneath the ground can never tell.

Whether you're interested in local history, archaeology, architecture or simply love a good story, this talk will change the way you look at historic buildings forever.

📅 Wednesday August 12th
🕦 Doors 6.45pm for a 7.30pm start
📍 Roman Circus Visitor Centre, Roman Circus Walk, CO2 7GZ
🎟️ Book a ticket online via the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/more-than-bricks-and-mortar-historic-buildings-and-the-lives-within-tickets-1989392382168?aff=erelpanelorg

03/08/2026

Don’t forget our annual archaeology open day will be returning this year on the 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝗮𝗺-𝟯𝗽𝗺!

The day is set to explore themes across the Roman and Early Modern Period (specifically touching on military history). Featuring Roman and military themed activities, living historians, live demonstrations and much more!

𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘀, this year we are also giving you the chance to join a tour around the Royal Artillery (Le Cateau) and Cavalry Barracks, led by a group of experts from the Colchester Military Heritage Group.

Attendance of the event is free; 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, you must purchase a ticket if you want to attend the tour, this is at a small cost.
Tickets for the tour can be found through our Eventbrite page, or you can follow the link below to purchase a ticket. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1990175990963?aff=oddtdtcreator

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
◦ Tour meeting point will be at the Roman Circus House, Colchester, CO2 7GZ
◦ Booking is required for the tour; you must purchase a ticket in advance of the day!
◦ There will two tours during the day, 10:30am and 1:30pm
◦ Tickets cost £5 (with a souvenir booklet included!)
◦ There are only 30 spaces available per tour, 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁!
◦ Parking at the event is strictly limited to blue badge holders only.

Nearby car parks include Butt Road (CO3 3DG), Napier Road North (CO2 7SZ) and Napier Road South (CO2 7GA).

29/07/2026

Pop down to see us Thursday and Friday this week to chat to the archaeologists about what we've found on site and what we're hoping to discover!! Not to be missed!!

Our Finds Tent is set up in the overflow carpark
9.30 until 3.30 both days!

Cudmore Grove Country Park
Historic England
Operation Nightingale
Explore Essex
Essex County Council



ArchaeologyUK