The Romans hated her, the Celts fought for her and now she is immortalised with a statue in Westminster. But who was Boudicca? The latest video in the Ancient World in London series looks at how her name is often misspelt, how her bloodthirsty rage was caused by the death of her husband and raping of her daughters and how the Romans beat her to within an inch of her life. The story of how she sacked three Roman cities in Britain is uncovered, and how she fell at the Battle of Watling Street.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 10:00
Boudicca massacred 80,000 people on her way to infamy, as she left Colchester, London and St Albans little more than smouldering husks in 60AD. And it's no surprise to learn that her appearance matched her bloodthirsty attitude. Boudicca was "a great big busty woman," says expert Mark Hassall, "with a blonde mass of hair falling down to her shoulders.
Philip Crummy formed part of the archaeology team which raised £200,000 inorder to buy the ancient Roman site in Colchester which was once a Roman Circus. Crummy is currently the Director of the Colchester Archaeological Trust, who ran the team that discovered and unearthed the Circus, the only one in the Roman Empire discovered north of the Alps. During his time as director he has over seen many archaeological digs and has published widely on the archaeological history of Colchester, the first Roman town in Britain. His most well-known publication being the 'City of Victory: The Story of Colchester – Britain’s first Roman Town'.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 11:57
The future of Britain's only chariot racetrack is looking a lot brighter this week, as the public funding needed to save Colchester's Roman circus was reached yesterday. The £200,000 raised by Colchester Archaeological Trust and Destination Colchester will join £30,000 from the local council and £550,000 in loans and grants. The total will go towards buying the Sergeant's Mess, a Victorian building which stands upon the circus' gates. To see an in-depth blog on the campaign itself, click here.
The Colchester Roman Circus is situated in modern day Colchester, which was once the ancient Roman settlement known as Camulodunum. This prehistoric site is the only known Roman chariot racing track found in the United Kingdom dating back 2000 years ago. In 2005 archaeologists discovered that the remains they were discovering as part of a land evaluation dig was infact this Roman circus.
Recently a campaign was held which raised £200,000 to save this Roman circus in order to preserve this important part of ancient Roman life.
Located in Colchester is the first English Augustinian priory church known as St Botolph's Priory. The church was founded in 1110 by the Anglo-Saxon community minister of Colchester. The former exterior plaster has weathered away, revealing the flints and reused Roman bricks of which the priory was constructed. However, the church remains an impressive example of early Norman architecture with circular pillars and large round arches. The church holds a large library and many miraculous relics dating back to the 11th century.
Submitted by Sean Williams on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:47
Colchester can lay claim to a bevy of titles: some impressive, some not so. For instance, you might not know that it's the first-ever town in Britain, founded as a Roman soldiers' outpost shortly after Claudius' 43AD landing. You may also be unaware that it's the home of Mary Whitehouse, Colchester United and Darren Day. A mixed bag, admittedly.
Jamie Hobbis heads down to Colchester to meet with the Colchester Archaeological Trust's Howard Brooks who takes Jamie on an adventure of the first Roman town in Britain. Showing the guardrooms of the Balkerne Gate which acted as the security entrance for the city, he describes how Queen Boudica destroyed the town. Howard also takes Jamie to the Roman wall of Colchester, and explains its material composition before taking him to a Roman Christian church where he talks about the importance of religion and Christianity on the empire and Britain at this time.
Jamie spots a Roman looking church, but Howard explains that it is actually a Saxon church, and was constructed using Roman building materials. Jamie also learns about the town's Roman theatre, a part of which can be viewed inside a vacated home.
This Roman church in Colchester dates back to the 4th century AD and is believed to have been founded in 320 AD. This is just a few years after Christianity was adopted by the Emperor Constantine in 313AD. Therefore, this Roman church is thought to be the earliest known Christian church in Britain. Colchester was the first capital of Roman Britain and beneath the Roman Castle are the remains of the most famous Roman buildings, including the Temple of Claudius, the Roman Wall and the remains of the Roman Theatre.
This week a group of archaeologists and volunteers from 
