Colchester Castle Essex |
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Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe. Colchester (The Saxons called the town Colneceaste; and the Domesday Book (1086) mentions it as Colcestra.) was the first capital of Roman Britain. The castle is constructed over the massive vaults of the ruined Roman Temple of Claudius (AD44). The temple became a main target of the rebels led by Queen Boudica who attacked the town in AD 60. Ordered by William the Conqueror the castle is the work of Gundulph, Bishop of Rochester who was also responsible for the design of the White Tower, the central Keep of the Tower of London, which has the same ground plan. Building began circa 1076 under the supervision of Eudo Dapifer (who became the castle's steward on its completion). Building stopped in 1080 because of a threat of a Viking invasion from King Cnut of Denmark but the castle was completed by around 1100. In 1215, the castle was besieged and eventually captured by King John following the altercation with rebellious nobles that eventually led to the Magna Carta. |
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