Spectacular displays of Colchester's early history including the destruction of Colchester at the hands of Boudica and the Iceni. Roman Colchester galleries feature many hands-on exhibits of appeal to children and adults alike. Look out for the imaginative holiday events programme. Displays about medieval and Norman Colchester plus an imaginative interpretation of castle prisons. There is also a display about the siege of Colchester during the English Civil War.
Buried! Hidden Secrets from the Past , 23rd July 2011 to 29th January 2012
Our history is buried in strange places, not necessarily under your feet! Come along and discover where and why our ancestors hid what was valuable to them. From coin hoards and offerings to the gods to items of clothing used to protect houses from evil forces! You’ll be amazed by what has been discovered and the stories that can be told!
This is a mixed collection of fascinating things that have been waiting to reveal their buried stories and capture the imagination of all who come to experience it. It certainly will get you talking and thinking about our past.
There are many stunning local objects on display from across the region and also a rare chance to see other museum collections from Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, Braintree Museum and Epping Forest Museum all in Colchester!
Open: Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 11am to 5pm.
Telephone: 01206 282939 or visit www.colchestermuseums.org.uk
Poetry at the Castle , 28th January 2012 to 3rd March 2012, 10:00 to 13:00
Two session course - Saturday 28th January and Saturday 3rd March
Taking inspiration from Roman objects and the surroundings, you can create a piece of poetry. The first session will look at how an object can ignite your imagination, as you look beyond it into the lives of people in the past. You can then write your poem and return as a group for the second session to ‘workshop’ your piece. These sessions will be facilitated by Sheena Clover of the Mosaic, Colchester’s Poetry Stanza Group.
10am-1pm
£15 for both sessions (includes Castle entrance on each day)
£10 for Friends of the Museum
These events are very popular so booking is essential, book in advance by calling 01206 282940 or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum, Colchester.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Dark Tours , 9th February 2012, 18:00 to 23:59
Come to the Castle for an ‘after hours and after dark’ experience, where you will be taken on a tour bringing out some of the Castle’s more gruesome and dark history. You will be taken into the vaults under the Castle, on the roof, into the prisons and around the museum, where they will hear stories of witches, martyrs, plague, disease and death. Over 16s only. Unfortunately the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Tours at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm.
£4.50 per person. £4 for Friends of the Museum.
These events are very popular so booking is essential, book in advance by calling 01206 282940 or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum, Colchester.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Medieval Medicine and Surgery , 13th February 2012 to 17th February 2012
Find out what it was like to visit a doctor in Medieval Times. Hear about the many treatments for illnesses and injuries from amputation, drilling and blood-letting to a course of leeches! You can drop by to help mix plague cures using herbs, or if you’re feeling very brave you can attend an appointment with the surgeon. WARNING – the appointments are not for the faint-hearted!
Shows at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.
BSL interpreted sessions on Monday 13th February at 11.30am - 12.00pm, 12.00pm - 12.30pm, 1.30pm - 2.00pm, 2.00pm - 2.30pm.
Free (after normal admission to the castle).
Colchester’s Cruel Past , 25th February 2012, 10:00 to 16:00
Journey through time and meet characters from the past that we don’t normally talk about. You won’t find any kings or queens but you will get to meet witches who are suffering in the hands of the Witchfinder General, people suffering from the plague and you may even bump into the gaoler, watch out… he may invite you to stay for a while!
Free (after normal admission to the castle).
Drop-in 10am – 4pm.
Tea &Talk: The Early Human Occupation of Britain, 3rd March 2012, 15:00 to 16:30
The last decade has seen tremendous advances in our understanding of early humans in Europe and in Britain and this talk will review the major developments. These include significant discoveries of new and very ancient sites in Norfolk and Suffolk, and increased chronological resolution of the successive phases of Neanderthal and modern human occupation.
Talk by Chris Stringer, Natural History Museum London
This talk will be British Sign Language interpreted.
All talks start at 3pm. Ticket holders will be admitted to the castle free after 2.30pm.
£3.50 per talk (£3 for Friends).
Enjoy all talks for £15 (£13 for Friends of the Museum).
Talks can be booked on 01206 282940, or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum (Tue-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am – 4.45pm)
Tickets for all talks must be booked, paid for and collected in advance.
All talks will be British Sign Language interpreted.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Tea & Talk: The History of Bourne Mill , 10th March 2012, 15:00 to 16:30
Beginning in Elizabethan Colchester in 1591, this talk will explore the social, political and economic lives of the Lucas family of St John's Colchester through the walls of their very own Banqueting Hall.
Talk by Lynette Bloom, Bourne Mill.
This talk will be British Sign Language interpreted.
All talks start at 3pm. Ticket holders will be admitted to the castle free after 2.30pm.
£3.50 per talk (£3 for Friends)
Talks can be booked on 01206 282940, or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum (Tue-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am – 4.45pm)
Tickets for all talks must be booked, paid for and collected in advance.
All talks will be British Sign Language interpreted.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Tea & Talk: Starting from Scratch , 17th March 2012, 15:00 to 16:30
Artist Brian Graham talks about his exhibition of paintings entitled ‘Starting from Scratch’ (on display in Colchester Castle). The exhibition focuses on 33 sites of some of the earliest human activity in the country, many of which are based in East Anglia, and what was behind his motivation to produce the art. His talk will focus particularly on the sites relating to the local area.
Talk by Brian Graham, Artist of Starting from Scratch.
This talk will be British Sign Language interpreted.
All talks start at 3pm. Ticket holders will be admitted to the castle free after 2.30pm.
£3.50 per talk (£3 for Friends)
Talks can be booked on 01206 282940, or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum (Tue-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am – 4.45pm).
Tickets for all talks must be booked, paid for and collected in advance.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Tea & Talk: Colchester: 2000 years of History , 24th March 2012, 15:00 to 16:30
Local historian Patrick Denney takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Colchester’s history from Roman times to the 20th century, stopping at all the highlights. You will get a chance to see how Colchester evolved over this period.
Talk by Patrick Denney, Local Historian.
This talk will be British Sign Language interpreted.
All talks start at 3pm. Ticket holders will be admitted to the castle free after 2.30pm.
£3.50 per talk (£3 for Friends)
Enjoy all talks for £15 (£13 for Friends of the Museum)
Talks can be booked on 01206 282940, or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum (Tue-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am – 4.45pm).
Tickets for all talks must be booked, paid for and collected in advance.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Tea & Talk: A History of Colchester Castle, 31st March 2012, 15:00 to 16:30
Join Peter Berridge, Museum Manager, for this journey through the history of Colchester Castle. The Castle has had a chequered history from its construction in the 11th century, through its times as a fortress, a home, a particularly nasty prison to its current use as a museum. Hear some interesting facts, and also get a glimpse into the future, as the next stage of the Castle’s development takes shape.
Talk by Peter Berridge, Museum Manager.
This talk will be British Sign Language interpreted.
All talks start at 3pm. Ticket holders will be admitted to the castle free after 2.30pm.
£3.50 per talk (£3 for Friends)
Enjoy all talks for £15 (£13 for Friends of the Museum)
Talks can be booked on 01206 282940, or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum (Tue-Sat 10am-4.45pm, Sun 11am – 4.45pm).
Tickets for all talks must be booked, paid for and collected in advance.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.
Medieval Archery for Adults , 12th May 2012, 11:00 to 15:00
Celebrate Adult Learners Week with this great archery workshop. You will have a hands-on experience involving an introduction into the type of person that became a medieval archer and a look at equipment based around an archer on campaign during the early stages of the Hundred Years War. Get a close look at armour, weaponry and camp materials and then have a go at shooting an English Longbow! Archery is very disability friendly and almost everyone can take part.
Sessions at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.
£3 (after normal castle admission).
These events are very popular so booking is essential, book in advance by calling 01206 282940 or by dropping into Hollytrees Museum, Colchester.
This is just one of the many events held by Colchester and Ipswich Museums, to find out more visit www.cimuseums.org.uk/whats-on.